Comparison of the efficacy of two phenotypic identification kits and classic PCR methods to identify Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from fish farms

Abstract

In recent years, phenotypic identification kits have been reported to give incorrect results in identifying Aeromonas species, whereas molecular identification is quite reliable. In this context, Aeromonas hydrophila strains, isolated from fish farms (9 strains), identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, and ATCC strain bacteria were used in the present study for the determination of the usability of API 20NE and Microgen GN-ID A + B panel test kits. All strains were determined as A. hydrophila in molecular methods. After phenotypic identification, a 100% accuracy rate was obtained for A. hydrophila with API 20NE. In the Microgen GN-ID A + B, these rates were 60% for the strains used in this study. Phenotypic identification for the ATCC strain in both kits was correct. This study showed that the API 20NE test kit had high validation for the rapid and correct identification of fish pathogenic A. hydrophila.