Antibiotic resistance via the food chain: Fact or fiction?
The mechanisms that bacteria use to acquire additional genetic material, including genes coding for antibiotic resistance, are principally the secondary pathways that have been described as transformation and conjugation pathways. The farming industry often is reported as a hotspot for antibiotic...
Main Authors: | , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Academy of Science of South Africa
2010-09-01
|
Series: | South African Journal of Science |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://archive.sajs.co.za/index.php/SAJS/article/view/281 |
id |
doaj-92fe310da8cf43b0a9d09d5c85766af4 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-92fe310da8cf43b0a9d09d5c85766af42020-11-24T22:08:06ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science0038-23531996-74892010-09-011069/1010.4102/sajs.v106i9/10.281281Antibiotic resistance via the food chain: Fact or fiction?Linda A. Bester0Sabiha Y. Essack1University of KwaZulu-NatalUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalThe mechanisms that bacteria use to acquire additional genetic material, including genes coding for antibiotic resistance, are principally the secondary pathways that have been described as transformation and conjugation pathways. The farming industry often is reported as a hotspot for antibiotic-resistance reservoirs. In this review, we consider the exposure of food animals during the course of their lifespans to preventative, therapeutic or prophylactic treatment with antibiotic agents. In this context, zoonotic bacteria are commonly recognised as a potential threat to human health, with therapeutic treatment of pathogenic organisms on farms increasing the likelihood of selective antibiotic pressure influencing the commensal flora of the intestines. Existing literature indicates, however, that the effective impact on human health of such interventions in the food production process is still subject to debate.http://archive.sajs.co.za/index.php/SAJS/article/view/281antibiotic susceptibilityfood securityfood productionsgene transfer |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Linda A. Bester Sabiha Y. Essack |
spellingShingle |
Linda A. Bester Sabiha Y. Essack Antibiotic resistance via the food chain: Fact or fiction? South African Journal of Science antibiotic susceptibility food security food productions gene transfer |
author_facet |
Linda A. Bester Sabiha Y. Essack |
author_sort |
Linda A. Bester |
title |
Antibiotic resistance via the food chain: Fact or fiction? |
title_short |
Antibiotic resistance via the food chain: Fact or fiction? |
title_full |
Antibiotic resistance via the food chain: Fact or fiction? |
title_fullStr |
Antibiotic resistance via the food chain: Fact or fiction? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Antibiotic resistance via the food chain: Fact or fiction? |
title_sort |
antibiotic resistance via the food chain: fact or fiction? |
publisher |
Academy of Science of South Africa |
series |
South African Journal of Science |
issn |
0038-2353 1996-7489 |
publishDate |
2010-09-01 |
description |
The mechanisms that bacteria use to acquire additional genetic material, including genes coding for antibiotic resistance, are principally the secondary pathways that have been described as transformation and conjugation pathways. The farming industry often is reported as a hotspot for antibiotic-resistance reservoirs. In this review, we consider the exposure of food animals during the course of their lifespans to preventative, therapeutic or prophylactic treatment with antibiotic agents. In this context, zoonotic bacteria are commonly recognised as a potential threat to human health, with therapeutic treatment of pathogenic organisms on farms increasing the likelihood of selective antibiotic pressure influencing the commensal flora of the intestines. Existing literature indicates, however, that the effective impact on human health of such interventions in the food production process is still subject to debate. |
topic |
antibiotic susceptibility food security food productions gene transfer |
url |
http://archive.sajs.co.za/index.php/SAJS/article/view/281 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT lindaabester antibioticresistanceviathefoodchainfactorfiction AT sabihayessack antibioticresistanceviathefoodchainfactorfiction |
_version_ |
1725817757337911296 |