Gas-liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Cellular Fatty Acid Methyl Esters in Aeromonas Species

The cellular fatty acids of 39 strains belonging to the genus Aeromonas (Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas caviae, Aeromonas sobria, Aeromonas media, Aeromonas schubertii, Aeromonas veronii) were determined by high resolution gas-liquid chromatography. The fatty acid profiles were characterized by major amounts (60% or more) of one saturated (hexadecanoic acid = 16:0) and two unsaturated (hexadecenoic acid = 16:1 and octadecenoic acid = 18:1) acids. While the majority of the strains of the six species exhibited, qualitatively, very similar fatty acid compositions, only minor and inconsistent differences could be observed which would be useful for a distinction of the different taxons. The following fatty acids were qualitatively identified: 12:0, i-13:0, 14:0, 3-OH 13:0, i-15:0, 15:0, 2-OH 14:0, 3-OH 14:0, i-16:0, 16:1, 16:0, i-17:1, i-17:0, a-17:0, 17:0 cyclopropane, 17:1, 17:0, 18:1 (3 isomers), 18:0 and i-20:0. Excellent congruence was found in reproducibility studies. Fatty acid analyses show a great homogeneity within the group and the technique does not appear to be the ideal method in distinguishing between Aeromonas species.