ABSTRACT
This chapter provides state-of-the-art overviews on foodborne diseases caused by Aeromonas in relation to their etiology, biology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Aeromonas species are gram-negative, oxidase-positive, facultative anaerobic rod-shaped bacteria in the family Aeromonadaceae that are ubiquitously distributed in aquatic environments and established pathogens of fish and marine animals. Gastroenteritis is the most common clinical presentation of Aeromonas infection, and despite that, the role of these bacteria as an etiological agent of diarrhea has been questioned for several years. Aeromonas species can cause gastroenteritis in children and adults. In the clinical studies that evaluated the pathogens associated with adults with diarrhea, Aeromonas incidence has been reported about 2%-5.6% in different areas of the world. Definite diagnosis of Aeromonas infection relies on laboratory cultivation and identification of the causative microbe. Aeromonads are nonfastidious bacteria that survive well in clinical specimens, and widely used transport media are acceptable for transport.
