Survival and recovery of Aeromonas hydrophila in water: development of methodology for testing bottled water in Canada

Abstract

Proposed changes to the Regulations for bottled water in the Food and Drugs Act of Canada include criteria for Aeromonas hydrophila (0 colony-forming units/100 mL water). The development of the methodology used to support these proposed Regulations and the survival of A. hydrophila in inoculated water are described. The methodology used in the isolation of A. hydrophila includes the use of hydrophobic grid membrane filters (HGMF), a resuscitation step on tryptic soy agar, and selective plating on membrane–Aeromonas–trehalose agar and Aeromonas medium. Aeromonas hydrophila proliferated and survived in inoculated water for up to 60 days or longer depending on the other contaminating bacteria. The presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa enhanced the survival of A. hydrophila and enabled this bacteria to survive for more than 60 days.Key words: Aeromonas hydrophila, bottled water, methodology, survival, recovery.