Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from food and drinking water was tested for pathogenicity by studying its hemolysis, hemagglutination, and cytotoxicity. Hemolysis, tested on erythrocytes from six different species, was more frequently seen with water isolates (64%) than with food isolates (48%). Hemagglutination was more frequently encountered with food isolates (92%) than with water isolates (73%). Cytotoxicity, evaluated on seven cell lines, was frequently observed with food isolates (92%) and with water isolates (73%). Heat treatment (56 degrees C for 10 min) of culture supernatant fluids inhibited the toxicity of some but not all toxin-producing isolates. Our results suggest that the human intestinal cell line HT-29 could be a useful complement for testing A. hydrophila exotoxins and for studying the enteropathogenicity of this species for humans.