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 negativ...