Prevalence and distribution of Aeromonas hydrophila in the United States.

The abundance of Aeromonas hydrophila was measured in 147 natural aquatic habitats in 30 states and Puerto Rico. Viable cell counts were used to estimate density at all sites by using Rimler-Shotts medium, a differential presumptive medium for A. hydrophila. Temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity, and turbidity were measured simultaneously with water sample collection. The density of A. hydrophila was higher in lotic than in lentic systems. Saline systems had higher densities of A. hydrophila than did freshwater systems. A. hydrophila could not be isolated from extremely saline, thermal, or polluted waters, even though it was found over wide ranges of salinity, conductivity, temperature, pH, and turbidity. Of the water quality parameters measured, only conductivity was significantly regressed with density of A. hydrophila.