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Comparative pathogenicity of bacteraemic isolates of Aeromonas hydrophila and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Ko WC, Chiang SR, Yan JJ, Chuang YC

Department of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan.

Two bacteraemic isolates of Aeromonas hydrophila and Klebsiella pneumoniae, Ah-2743 and Kp-129, respectively, were studied for their relative pathogenicity in comparison with Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Ah-2743 caused significantly higher serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta or IL-6 in human whole blood, and higher serum IL-1beta and IL-6 levels in infected mice, than did Kp-129 and E. coli ATCC 25922. In addition, in BALB/c mice infected by intraperitoneal inoculation, Ah-2743 caused a higher fatality rate (80%) than did Kp-129 (0%). With intramuscular inoculation, Ah-2743 caused more rapid and intense local accumulation of inflammatory cells than did Kp-129, and myonecrosis was present only in Ah-2743-infected mice. These data indicate that Ah-2743 is more pathogenic than Kp-129 or E. coli ATCC 25922 for BALB/c mice. The cellular components or extracellular factors associated with increased cytokine induction and pathogenicity of A. hydrophila in mice merit further investigation.

Published 21 June 2005 in Clin Microbiol Infect, 11(7): 553-8.
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