Reports of Biochemistry

Background: Aeromonashydrophila (A. hydrophila) is an aquatic bacterium that can cause a spectrum of infectious diseases, including both gastrointestinal and extraintestinal infections. Due to the high rate of diarrheal infections in pediatric patients in central Iran, this study was designed to determine the frequency of A. hydrophila in diarrhea samples from children in this region.

Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, diarrheal stool specimens were collected from 200 children admitted between February and October of 2015 to educational and medical centers affiliated with the Arak University of Medical Sciences. The samples were analyzed both phenotypically by culture and genotypically by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: A. hydrophila was isolated from two of the 200 samples tested (1%). The presence of bacterial genetic markers further confirmed the diagnosis.

Conclusions: Based on this study, A. hydrophilais not highly prevalent in children with diarrhea in Arak; however clinical diagnostic laboratory personnel should be aware of the possible presence of A.hydrophila in children with diarrhea as it can cause dangerous health problems in both them and young adolescents.