Virulence factors were compared in 15 Aeromonas spp. isolated from faeces of patients with Aeromonas-associated gastroenteritis and in 81 strains isolated from food. Strains from food did not show differences in the distribution of virulence factors when compared with strains isolated from faeces. However, 88.8% of Aeromonas strains isolated from food were capable of producing possible virulence factors. Characterization of 28 autoagglutinating (AA+) Aeromonas spp. indicated that the human strains differed from the food strains in hemagglutinating and hemolytic capacities. These results suggest that autoagglutination associated with hemagglutinating and hemolytic capacities in food strains may be a helpful indicator of potential pathogenicity.