Suicide phenomenon in mesophilic aeromonads as a basis for species identification.

The acetic acid-mediated suicide phenomenon in mesophilic aeromonads in conjunction with tests for aerogenicity and esculin hydrolysis served as the basis for species identification. Of 210 Aeromonas isolates tested at 30 degrees C, 88 were identified as Aeromonas hydrophila (nonsuicidal, aerogenic, esculin positive), 52 were identified as A. sobria (suicide variable, aerogenic, esculin negative), and 70 were identified as A. caviae (suicidal, anaerogenic, esculin positive). These identifications paralleled those achieved by biochemical criteria.