RESUMO
The present study was conducted to determine the virulence and cytotoxicity of Aeromonas hydrophila strains isolated from seafood samples collected from 5 major fish markets in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Among 73 A. hydrophila strains isolated from fish and shrimp samples, 86.3 percent exhibited haemolysis, 78.1 percent produced slime, 98.63 percent produced protease and also demonstrated cytotoxicity on Vero cells. Cell shrinkage, detachment and rounding of Vero cells were recorded as cytotoxic changes. Only one strain did not show haemolysis, slime production, proteolytic activity and cytotoxicity on treatment with Vero cells. Positive correlation was observed between proteolytic activity and cytotoxicity irrespective of haemolytic activity of the strains. These results demonstrated the presence of wide spread, pathogenically characterized, cytotoxic seafood borne A. hydrophila in Chennai.