Abstract

Nourhène SAIDI1,2, Mejdi SNOUSSI1,3, Donatella USAI2, Stefania ZANETTI2and Amina BAKHROUF1

The ability of Aeromonas hydrophilastrains isolated from aquatic environment and ornamental fishes to adhere to both biotic and abiotic surfaces was evaluated. The majority of strains were able to adhere to fish skin mucus, while the fish mucus preparation exhibited a high level of anti-bacterial effect. Adhesive properties were observed between 75 and 80% of the analyzed A. hydrophilato cells (Hep-2 and Caco-2). In addition, 40% of the tested strains were invasive on the two cell lines. On Congo Red Agar, only 65% of the strains produced slime, 65% of the strains were able to form biofilm on glass tube with Crystal violet and 85% with Safranin. Most A. hydrophilastrains (95%) were adhesive to polystyrene with high optical density values. These proprieties may allow the persistence to Aeromonas strains in the aquatic biotope in a free-living planctonic state or attached to biotic andabiotic surfaces