The significance of the recovery of Aeromonas from stool specimens should be interpreted cautiously and must rely on both laboratory information and clinical interpretation.

Taxonomy
Family: Aeromonadaceae

Natural habitats
Aeromonas are inhabitants of aquatic ecosystems worldwide.

They don’t like saltwater.

They are also found in a wide variety of fresh produced meat (beef, poultry and pork), and dairy products (raw milk and ice cream)
And found in the gut of medical leeches and in the mouth of snakes

Clinical significance
They are capable of causing gastroenteritis and wound infections in humans, especially those individuals with liver disease.

Aeromonas gastroenteritis ranges from an acute watery diarrhea (most common form) to dysenteric illness or chronic illness.

Stools from acute watery diarrhea are loose and erythrocytes and fecal leukocytes are absent.

Symptoms
Abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and nausea.
Infections are usually self-limiting, but children may require hospitalization due to dehydration.

A. caviae infection can even mimicinflammatory bowel disease in children.

Aeromonads can also be isolated, on other sites, although blood and wounds are the most common sources