The ability of toxigenic strains of Aeromonas hydrophila. Aeromonas sobria and Aeromonas caviae to produce exotoxins (enterotoxin, haemolysin and cytotoxin) in poultry meat extract at refrigeration temperature (5±1°C) was studied upto 7 days. Aeromonas hydrophila and A. sobria strains produced these toxins after 4 days of storage while A. caviae was able to produce after 6 days. The titres of haemolysin and cytotoxin produced by A. sobria were (each 1: 32) and reached their maximum earlier than that due to A. hydrophila (1:32, 1:8) and A. caviae (1: 4). The possible involvement of preformed toxin(s) in Aeromonas associated gastroenteritis has been discussed.
Aerbmonas, exotoxins, enterotoxin, cytotoxin, haemolysin, psychrotrophic
