致病性嗜水气单胞菌多重PCR检测方法的建立

致病性嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)是近年中国各地大规模流行的淡水养殖鱼类暴发性疾病的主要病原,本研究针对GenBank中登录的致病性嗜水气单胞菌的气溶素基因(hlyA)、溶血素基因(aerA)以及为气单胞菌属所特有的内参照基因16S rRNA保守区设计了3对特异性引物,通过进行多重PCR反应体系优化,多重PCR产物的测序鉴定与特异性和敏感性实验,试图建立一种检测致病性嗜水气单胞菌的多重PCR检测方法。对8株嗜水气单胞菌、16株相关菌株进行多重PCR检测,结果显示,非致病性分离株均未扩增出毒力基因hlyA和aerA,而致病性分离株则至少含有hlyA基因;对40份送检的水产动物样品进行多重PCR检测,结果与常规微生物学检测符合率为97.5%。多重PCR检测方法具有较高的敏感性与特异性,最低可检测模板量为10 ng的样品。该方法的建立对水产动物嗜水气单胞菌病的快速诊断和分子流行病学的调查有重要意义。     

Occurrence of multiple antibiotic resistance and genotypic characterization in Edwardsiella tarda isolated from cage‐cultured hybrid red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) in the Ping River,Northern Thailand

Edwardsiella tarda is a pathogen that causes edwardsiellosis in aquatic animals. The emergence of multiple antibiotic‐resistant strains makes antibiotic treatment difficult. This study aimed to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and the genotypic characterization of E. tarda isolated from cage‐cultured red tilapia in Thailand. A total of 30 isolates were identified as E. tarda using biochemical and molecular analysis. The disc diffusion method for testing antibiotic susceptibility showed all the isolates were resistant to colistin sulphate and oxolinic acid. High levels of resistance to amoxicillin, ampicillin, ceftazidime, oxytetracycline and sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim were observed as well. The multiple antibiotic resistance index ranged from 0.25 to 0.92, indicating that these isolates had been exposed to high risk sources of contamination where antibiotics were commonly used. All the isolates carried the bla_TEM gene based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The tetA and sul3 genes were detected in 90% (27/30) and 26.7% (8/30) of the isolates respectively. Nine different genetic groups of isolates were obtained using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC‐PCR). A correlation between genetic types and multiple antibiotic‐resistant patterns was found. These results highlight the potential risks of multiple antibiotic‐resistant isolates for humans and the environment.     

多重RT-PCR体系检测4种虾病毒的方法

根据多重RT-PCR的技术原理,利用对虾传染性表皮与造血组织坏死症病毒、白斑综合征病毒、黄头病毒和桃拉综合征病毒的基因序列分别设计了4对特异引物,建立多重RT-PCR体系用于虾4种病毒的检测。多重RT-PCR体系能特异地扩增出IHHNV、WSSV、YHV和TSV的目的片段:TSV特异性扩增片段508 bp,WSSV 特异性扩增片段435 bp,IHHNV 特异性扩增片段301 bp 和YHV。特异性扩增片段614 bp。结果表明,多重PCR虾病毒检测系统具有较高的特异性和敏感性,并对其它对虾病原呈阴性。IHHNV、TSV、WSSV和YHV模板在多重PCR虾病毒检测体系中的检测下限分别为0.1,1,0.02和0.2 pg。病毒感染病料检测试验中,该检测体系的检测结果与单纯PCR的检测结果呈现出较好的吻合度。     

罗非鱼水产品中的喹诺酮类药物耐药菌和耐药基因检测分析

本研究旨在了解水产品中携带的细菌对喹诺酮类药物的耐药状况及耐药基因类型,评估水产品中细菌耐药性风险。从广州市14家超市随机购买100条鲜活的罗非鱼,高通量测序分析结果显示,罗非鱼携带的优势菌群为大肠埃希菌(Escherichia hydrophila)和气单胞菌(Aeromonas)。采用大肠埃希菌和气单胞菌筛选培养方法,分别从鳃、肌肉和肠内容物筛选分离出182株大肠埃希菌和280株气单胞菌;运用琼脂二倍稀释法测定了恩诺沙星和环丙沙星对分离菌株的最小抑菌浓度;通过PCR法扩增质粒介导的喹诺酮类耐药(PMQR)基因(qnrA、qnr B、qnrC、qnrD、qnrS、aac(6￠)-Ib-cr、qepA、oqxAB)并进行测序和比对分析。结果显示,分离的气单胞菌对恩诺沙星和环丙沙星的耐药率分别为2.50%和2.14%;分离的大肠埃希菌对恩诺沙星和环丙沙星的耐药率分别为25.82%和18.13%。肌肉中分离的气单胞菌和大肠埃希菌对恩诺沙星和/或环丙沙星的耐药率均低于鳃和肠道的;各组织分离的大肠埃希菌对氟喹诺酮类药物的耐药率均远高于气单胞菌。分离菌株中,携带PMQR基因的大肠埃希菌占59.89%,且检出的耐药基因种类较多,包括qnrB、qnrD、qnrS、aac(6?)-Ib-cr和oqx AB;而携带PMQR基因的气单胞菌仅占6.79%,只检出耐药基因aac(6￠)-Ib-cr和qnrS。结论认为,罗非鱼食用部分肌肉携带的耐药菌较少,食品相对安全;肠道和鳃组织携带的耐药菌以大肠埃希菌为主,而且大部分菌株携带有不同类型的PMQR基因,存在一定的耐药传播隐患。     

Prevalence and Characterization of Coagulase Positive Staphylococci Isolated from Salted Anchovy

A total of 100 salted anchovy samples were used to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus and other coagulase positive Staphylococci (CPS) as well as to determine the methicillin (MR) and antibiotic resistance (AR) profile, the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidine (PVL) toxin gene (lukS/F-PV), slime factor properties (SFP), and the genotypic relatedness of the isolates. Agar disc diffusion assay (ADDA) and microdilution broth susceptibility test (MDBST) were applied to compare the specificity and sensitivity of the MR detection methods. A total of 41 CPS isolates were detected at the 10² and 10³ CFU/g levels in contrast to S. aureus. The 16S rRNA (genus specific) was detected in all the isolates in contrast to nuc (species-specific) and lukS/F-PV genes. A total of 16/41 isolates were found to be MR by using the three methods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was a more sensitive and reliable method for the detection of MR isolates. The antibiotic resistance rates were 75.60, 73.17, 51.21, 31.70, 12.19, and 4.87% to penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and clindamycin, respectively. All the isolates were sensitive to gentamicin and vancomycin. The SFP were determined in all the isolates by using Congo Red agar, and 20 different genotypes were determined by using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR assay.     

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis

SUMMARY: We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome for ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis . Two large DNA fragments covering the entire genome were amplified using a long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, and the products subsequently used as templates for PCR with 57 fish-versatile and five species-specific primers that amplify contiguous, overlapping segments of the entire genome. Direct sequencing of the PCR products demonstrated that the genome (16 537 bp) contained the same 37 mitochondrial genes (two ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA, and 13 protein-coding genes) as those found in other vertebrates, with the gene order identical to that in typical vertebrates. A major non-coding region between the tRNA^Pro and tRNA^Phe genes (857 bp) was considered to be the control region (D-loop), as it has several conservative blocks that are characteristic to this region.     

Antibiotic resistance and repetitive‐element PCR fingerprinting in Aeromonas veronii isolates

This study evaluated antibiotic resistance and the related genes in total 47 Aeromonas veronii isolates from pet fish, eel (Anguilla japonica) and koi (Cyprinus carpio) in Korea. In comparison with the antibiotic susceptibilities of isolates from eel and koi, those of pet fish were more resistant to ceftiofur, aminoglycosides, tetracycline and nitrofurantoin. And isolates from pet fish showed high prevalences of class 1 integron, quinolones and tetracycline resistance determinants than those from eel and koi. Repetitive‐element palindromic PCR (rep‐PCR) showed larger diversities among A. veronii isolates. Collectively, pet fish may be a reservoir for multiple clones of A. veronii involved in antibiotic resistance. In this aspect, imported fish in the aquaculture trade should be steadily and continually screened for bacterial antibiotic resistance and related genes.     

类志贺邻单胞菌耐药基因检测与耐药性关系的研究

为研究类志贺邻单胞菌的耐药表型和耐药基因之间的关系,采用K-B纸片扩散法对55株类志贺邻单胞菌进行耐药性鉴定,同时采用PCR方法对相关耐药基因进行检测。药敏试验结果显示,55株类志贺邻单胞菌对30种抗生素药物产生不同程度的耐药性,其中对克林霉素(98.2%)、万古霉素(98.2%)、氨苄西林(90.9%)、麦迪霉素(89.1%)、羧苄西林(89.1%)、苯唑西林(87.3%)的耐药性较高。TEM、gyrB和tetR基因PCR检出率分别为18.2%、67.3%和36.4%,其中39株致病菌至少含有1个耐药基因。试验结果表明,分离所得的全部类志贺邻单胞菌均多重耐药,耐药基因和耐药表型之间呈现一定的相关性,但非一一对应。     

副溶血弧菌养殖对虾分离株耐药性及耐药基因分析

文章采用琼脂稀释法检测从养殖患病对虾中分离的36株副溶血弧菌(Vibrio parahaemolyticus)对16种药物的耐药性,并用PCR法检测喹诺酮类耐药基因qnrA、qnrB、qnrS和qnrVC,酰胺醇类耐药基因cat、optrA、floR和cfr,四环霉素类耐药基因tetA、tetB和tetM,磺胺类耐药基因sul1、sul2和sul3,氨基糖苷类耐药基因strA、strB、aadA和aacA,利福霉素类耐药基因arr,β-内酰胺类耐药基因bla CARB和大环内酯类耐药基因erm的携带状况,分析其耐药表型和基因型之间的相关性。结果显示,36株副溶血弧菌对β-内酰胺类药物氨苄西林耐药率最高(88.9%),其次为磺胺类药物磺胺甲噁唑(66.7%),硫酸新霉素、庆大霉素、头孢曲松和美罗培南呈现100%敏感。多重耐药副溶血弧菌比例高达61.1%(22/36),其中1株对6类抗菌药耐药。喹诺酮类耐药基因qnrVC检出率最高达72.2%(26/36);其次为氨基糖苷类耐药基因srtB,检出率58.3%(21/36);大环内酯类、利福霉素类耐药基因均未检测到。耐药基因检出率与耐药表型没有表现出一一对应的关系,提示副溶血弧菌耐药的复杂性。     

PCR-RFLP genotypes associated with quinolone resistance in isolates of Flavobacterium psychrophilum

A novel genotyping method for epizootiological studies of bacterial cold-water disease caused by Flavobacterium psychrophilum and associated with quinolone resistance was developed. Polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed on 244 F. psychrophilum isolates from various fish species. PCR was performed with primer pair GYRA-FP1F and GYRA-FP1R amplifying the A subunit of the DNA gyrase (GyrA) gene, which contained the quinolone resistance determining region. Digestion of PCR products with the restriction enzyme Mph1103I showed two genotypes, QR and QS. The difference between these genotypes was amino acid substitutions at position 83 of GyrA (Escherichia coli numbering). The genotype QR indicated an alanine residue at this position associated with quinolone resistance in F. psychrophilum isolates. Of the 244 isolates tested in this study, the number of QR genotype isolates was 153 (62.7%). In isolates from ayu (n=177), 146 (82.5%) were genotype QR. With combination of this technique and previously reported PCR-RFLP genotyping, eight genotypes were observed in F. psychrophilum isolates. Using this genotyping system, the relationships between genotype and host fish species, or locality of isolation, were analysed and are discussed.     

IncK plasmid-mediated tetracycline resistance in Edwardsiella ictaluri isolates from diseased freshwater catfish in Vietnam

Eight tetracycline resistant Edwardsiella ictaluri isolates obtained from diseased freshwater catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) in Vietnam, and showing different resistance phenotypes to other antimicrobial agents, were studied. The tet genes were determined using PCR. Conjugation experiments were performed to assess transferability of the tetracycline resistance determinant and the size and incompatibility group (Inc) of each tet-carrying plasmid were determined. PCR and sequencing were used for characterization of the co-transferred resistance genes. A tetA gene was demonstrated in the E. ictaluri isolates and for all of them, Escherichia coli transconjugants were obtained. All transconjugants contained high-molecular weight tetA-carrying plasmids (~ 140 kb) belonging to the incK group, as was shown with the PCR-based replicon typing method. The strA–strB, dhfr1 and sul 2 genes were detected on the tetA-carrying plasmids of the transconjugants showing resistance to streptomycin, trimethoprim and sulfonamides, respectively. The dhfr1 gene was found to be located in a class 1 integron as determined by PCR and sequencing. Interestingly, the 3′ CS region of class 1 integrons was not detected by PCR. This study shows the presence of incK plasmid-mediated tetracycline resistance among E. ictaluri isolates from diseased freshwater catfish in Vietnam.     

海水养殖动物源弧菌喹诺酮类药物耐药表型与基因型分析

采用琼脂稀释法测定121株海水养殖源弧菌对喹诺酮类药物(恩诺沙星、诺氟沙星和环丙沙星)的敏感性,利用PCR方法检测其质粒介导的喹诺酮类耐药基因(qnrVC、qnrS、qnrA和qnrB)、外排泵耐药基因(oqxA、oqxB、acrR、marR和soxR)和整合子(Int1、SXT和ISCR1),同时研究4种外排泵抑制剂(甲基吡咯烷酮,NMP;利血平,RSP;羰基氰氯苯腙,CCCP;苯丙氨酸-精氨酸-β萘酰胺,PAβN)对弧菌恩诺沙星、诺氟沙星和环丙沙星最小抑菌浓度的影响。在121株弧菌中,恩诺沙星耐药菌株31株(25.6%),诺氟沙星耐药株21株(17.4%),环丙沙星耐药株22株(18.2%);4种质粒介导喹诺酮类耐药基因仅检测到qnrA(2株)和qnrVC(30株),5种喹诺酮类外排泵基因仅在溶藻弧菌352菌株中检测到oqxB;121株弧菌中检测到39株菌携带Int1、42株菌携带SXT、44株菌携带ISCR1;在NMP、RSP、CCCP和PAβN作用下,分别有22株、25株、31株和7株弧菌对恩诺沙星的敏感性下降,分别有6株、5株、9株和4株弧菌对诺氟沙星的敏感性下降,分别有17株、13株、5株和14株弧菌对环丙沙星的敏感性下降。研究结果表明,弧菌对喹诺酮类药物耐药表型与基因型存在较大的不一致性,外排泵抑制剂对弧菌喹诺酮类药物的耐药性具有显著影响,预示弧菌对喹诺酮类药物耐药存在着新的机制。     

A novel genotyping technique for distinguishing between Flavobacterium psychrophilum isolates virulent and avirulent to ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis (Temminck & Schlegel)

We developed a simple genotyping method for Flavobacterium psychrophilum for analysing two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gyrA gene and to distinguish between isolates that are virulent and avirulent to ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis (Temminck & Schlegel). The genotyping method is an on/off switch assay and is based on the polymerase chain reaction technique with phosphorothioated primers. We classified 232 isolates from four families of fish (i.e. Plecoglossidae, Osmeridae, Cyprinidae and Salmonidae) into four genotypes (G‐C, A‐T, A‐C and G‐T). The G‐C type isolates exhibited strong pathogenicity to ayu, whereas the A‐T and G‐T types did not show any pathogenicity to this species. The A‐C type exhibited no or weak pathogenicity to ayu. These results indicate that genotyping F. psychrophilum isolates with two SNPs from gyrA can clearly distinguish between isolates potentially harmful to ayu (G‐C type) and those that are potentially not harmful or less harmful (A‐C, A‐T and G‐T type). The on/off switch assay provides a quick, simple, and very powerful DNA genotyping technique for F. psychrophilum isolates.     

养殖龟鳖源气单胞菌耐药性与质粒介导喹诺酮类耐药基因分析

为了解养殖龟鳖源气单胞菌的耐药情况及质粒介导的喹诺酮类耐药(PMQR)、喹诺酮类耐药决定区(QRDR)与耐药表型之间的关系;实验采用K-B纸片法测定了1996—2013年从广东地区患病龟鳖分离的67株气单胞菌对23种常见抗菌药物的耐药性,并检测5种PMQR基因qnrA、qnrB、qnrS、qepA和aac(6')-Ib-cr,同时分析PMQR基因阳性菌株染色体上gyrA、parC基因QRDR的突变情况。结果显示,67株气单胞菌对氨苄西林、头孢噻吩和磺胺复合物的耐药率分别高达100%、92.54%和83.58%,对喹诺酮类药物呈现中等耐药,耐药率介于19.40%~64.18%,而对亚胺培南、呋喃妥因、阿米卡星、头孢噻肟敏感性较高,耐药率低于10%;79.10%(53/67)的菌株对3类或以上抗菌药物具有耐药性。19.40%(13/67)的菌株携带PMQR基因,其中,8.96%(6/67)携带qnrS1基因、5.97%(4/67)携带qnrS2基因、7.46%(5/67)携带aac(6')-Ib-cr基因[其中2株同时携带qnrS2和aac(6')-Ib-cr基因]。13株PMQR基因阳性菌株均分别携带1~4个质粒,大小介于0.8~15 kb;其中6株在gyrA基因及parC基因上均发生变异,3株仅在gyrA基因上发生变异,另外4株未发现QRDR的基因突变。研究表明,广东地区龟鳖源气单胞菌对多种抗菌药物耐药并存在多重耐药现象;而且PMQR机制的存在预示着喹诺酮类耐药性很可能会在水产临床上更加快速而广泛地传播,应引起重视。     

大菱鲆弧菌耐药谱、耐药基因检测和ERIC-PCR分型分析

2020年6—10月,从辽宁地区患病大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)体内共分离到394株菌株.基于16S rRNA序列鉴定分离株,采用微量稀释法分析随机挑选的18株大菱鲆弧菌(Vibrio scophthalmi)对8种抗生素的敏感性,检测其耐药基因携带情况,并基于ERIC-PCR进行分型研究.结果显...     

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus

ABSTRACT: The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome for the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus (Teleostei: Clupeiformes) was determined. The entire genome was purified by gene amplification using the long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, and products were subsequently used as templates for PCR with 56 fish-versatile primers that amplify contiguous, overlapping segments of the entire genome. Direct sequencing of the PCR products demonstrated that the genome (16 675 base pairs [bp]) contained the same 37 mitochondrial genes (two ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA and 13 protein-coding genes) as those found in other vertebrates, with the gene order being identical to that in typical vertebrates. A major non-coding region between the tRNA^Pro and tRNA^Phe genes (1024 bp) was considered to be the control (D-loop) region, as it has several conservative blocks characteristic to this region.     

养殖环境及贝源溶藻弧菌MLST分型及其毒力基因、耐药性分析

溶藻弧菌(Vibrio alginolyticus)是近年来贝类病害中最常见的细菌性病原之一,对贝类养殖产业的健康发展构成严重威胁。本研究旨在分析不同养殖环境水体和贝类组织中,溶藻弧菌的基因变异、毒力基因、耐药性及其分布规律。对12株溶藻弧菌分离株开展多位点序列分型(multilocus sequence typing, MLST)、毒力因子以及菌株耐药性分析,结果显示,12株溶藻弧菌的序列型(sequence typing, ST)分型互不相同,7株为PubMLST数据库已经收录的ST型,5株因管家基因的等位基因位点变化而形成新的ST型,贝类养殖环境中的溶藻弧菌具有较高的遗传多样性。12株溶藻弧菌都携带tlh、fur和collagenase三种毒力基因,但均未检测到tdh、trh、toxR和tcpA毒力基因。溶藻弧菌携带毒力因子的种类和数量受地区分布等因素的影响。不同来源的溶藻弧菌均具有多重耐药特征,对青霉素和氨苄西林产生抗性。本研究表明,贝类养殖环境中的溶藻弧菌具有种群复杂、遗传多样性高的特点;不同来源菌株在毒力基因携带和耐药性方面存在较大差异。本研究通过探究不同区域内不同来源的溶藻弧菌遗传变异及耐药性差异,对贝源溶藻弧菌的有效防控提供一定理论参考。     

广东地区吉富罗非鱼无乳链球菌病的流行情况与耐药性

为了调查广东省惠州、肇庆、珠海、湛江4个吉富罗非鱼主养区链球菌病的流行情况和耐药性,并进一步分析β-内酰胺酶基因与青霉素类药物的耐药性关系。本实验通过传统的方法对菌株进行分离纯化,扩增特异性基因cfb以及16s r DNA对各菌株进行鉴定;采用k-b法测定分离菌株的药物敏感性;通过PCR检测β-内酰胺酶类基因在分离菌株中的分布情况,并用Statistic6.0统计分析各β-内酰胺酶基因与青霉素类药物的耐药关系。实验结果表明,吉富罗非鱼无乳链球菌的阳性率从高到低的顺序为惠州(46.46%)湛江(43.24%)肇庆(17.30%)珠海(4.17%);药敏结果显示各地区无乳链球菌分离株对青霉素(耐药率为94.29%)和磺胺二甲基嘧啶(耐药率为86.40%)普遍耐药,对恩诺沙星最为敏感(耐药率为3.99%);β-内酰胺酶基因分布与细菌耐药性统计结果显示,无乳链球菌基因组中的9个β-内酰胺酶基因在各分离菌株中的分布呈高度多态性,其中SAG0658基因与氨苄青霉素抗性显著相关,提示SAG0658基因在无乳链球菌耐氨苄青霉素过程中发挥主要作用;此外,9个β-内酰胺酶基因与青霉素抗性无相关性,说明其在菌株对青霉素耐药过程中并未发挥明显作用,提示分离菌株对青霉素的耐药性可能依赖其他途径。     

Identification and detection of Pseudomonas plecoglossicida isolates with PCR primers targeting the gyrB region

Pseudomonas plecoglossicida is the agent of bacterial haemorrhagic ascites (BHA) in freshwater fish farming in Japan. To develop a rapid identification and detection method for P. plecoglossicida, a PCR amplification technique targeting the chromosomal DNA region coding the B subunit of the DNA gyrase (gyrB) was used. The nucleotide sequences of gyrB were determined in nine isolates of P. plecoglossicida and two other Pseudomonas species. On the basis of these determined sequences and the gyrB sequences of other Pseudomonas species or fish pathogenic bacteria deposited in international nucleotide sequence databases (GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ), PCR primers PL-G1F, PL-G1R, PL-G2F and PL-G2R were designed for specific amplification of the partial gyrB of P. plecoglossicida. The specificity of these primers in amplifying the gyrB of P. plecoglossicida was verified using selected strains of related bacterial species. The nested PCR technique was used to detect P. plecoglossicida from kidney and intestine of ayu. Primer pair PL-G1F and PL-G1R was used for the external PCR, and primer pair PL-G2F and PL-G2R for the internal PCR. Of 10 ayu juveniles, expected size PCR products were observed from intestine and kidney samples in one and two specimens, respectively. The PCR technique with primers based on the gyrB sequence is thus useful for the diagnosis of BHA.     

Phenotypic,molecular and pathological characterization of motile aeromonads isolated from diseased fishes cultured in Uruguay

Information about motile aeromonads from aquaculture systems of the Neotropical region is scarce. The aim of this study was to characterize motile Aeromonas isolated from ornamental and consumable fishes cultured in Uruguay. Biochemical and molecular methods were used for species identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of virulence genes were evaluated. Genetic diversity was analysed by rep‐PCR, and virulence of the most representative isolates was determined by calculating the fifty lethal dose in experimentally challenged fish (Australoheros facetus). Aeromonas hydrophila and A. veronii were the most prevalent identified species (38.2% and 32.4%, respectively), whereas A. allosacharophila, A. bestiarium, A. caviae and A. punctata were less prevalent. This study constitutes the first report of these last four species in Uruguay. All isolates were resistant to at least three antimicrobials, and 82.3% of them showed multidrug resistance. Virulence genotypes were correlated with the Aeromonas species and haemolytic activity. The genotype act+/alt+/ast+/ela+/lip+ was the most prevalent (26.5%). A correlation between virulence genotypes and Aeromonas species was found. A. punctata showed a clonal structure according to rep‐PCR analysis, whereas other species showed high genetic diversity. The number of virulence genes of the isolates was related with virulence according to the experimental challenge assays.