ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ALLIUM CEPA EXTRACTS AGAINST AEROMONASHYDROPHILA ISOLATED FROM DIARRHEA SAMPLES OF CHILDREN IN IRAQ

Two hundred and seventy five watery diarrhea samples (clinical samples) were taken from children suffering from gastroenteritis. Twenty isolates of Aeromonashydrophila (7.2%)were obtained.The organisms were identified as Aeromonashydrophila according to a biochemical tests and also by API 20E system. Among the infected patients the age ranged from less than 1 month to 12 years. The highest incidence of Aeromonashydrophilaisolation was among(less than 1 month -2) years old age group 16 (80%) isolates. The antibiotic-sensitivityof Aeromonashydrophila isolates was determined to thirteen different antibiotic discs. All isolates were resistant (100%) to amoxicillin, while all the isolates were sensitive (100%) to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, Imipenem, cefotaxime and cefteriaxon. Antimicrobial activity of the Allium cepa (white and purple onion) extracts was tested against Aeromonashydrophila isolates was done. Among the three types of white onion extracts tested, cold-water, hot water and ethanolic extracts, only hot- water extract showed antibacterial activity. On the other handpurple onion extracts did not show any inhibitory effect on the growth of Aeromonashydrophila isolates.