This is how many of the
>worlds pennicillen (sp?) resistant strains of all sorts of bacteria
>have evolved. Farmers in feedlots in some countries feed this
>antibiotic to cows to increase among other things milk production
 
 
I have to answer this one.   Dairy farmers are not allowed to sell milk for
human  comsumption that has been contaminated with antibiotics.  It has
nothing to do with antibiotic resistant bacteria.   It has to do with people
drinking contaminated milk who are allergic to antibiotics.   This has been
in effect since the 1960's.
 
 
Thanks
Michael Oberle
[log in to unmask]
 
Network Technical Services Inc.
 
 
Minnesota
 
The place where absolutely nothing is allowed.
-----Original Message-----
From: Garth <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, August 02, 1998 3:52 PM
Subject: Re: Trevors questiona bout TM resistance
 
 
>Hi Trevor and All
>
>You menioned that the TM resistance in bacterial strains in cows
>cannot cross to strains in bees.
>
>This may be incorrect. Bacteria have an ability to perform so called
>lateral gene shifts - genes are transferred without actual sexual
>contact. The way they do this is to pick up chunks of environmental
>DNA they may find (usually small pieces that have one or two genes on
>them termed plasmids) which are then kept for a little while. If they
>do something good, the bacteria lives a bit longer and has more
>offspring. If they do something bad, it goes into hard times and
>chews up all excess DNA and gets rid of the bad extra piece. It amy
>also die ( a bit like succumbing to an irritation heartattack for
>picking up a computer on the side of the road loaded with Win3.0 and
>WP5.1 and  trying to use it??)
>
>So it is feasible for DNA from bacillus species, or any other similar
>bacteria that evolve a TM resistance gene to be transported back to a
>beehive in water which had a cowpat in it. >(the antibiotic kills of
non-beneficial bacteria in the cows gut that
>were turning good food into bad gas, but leaves the good ones that
>help break down cellulose and so on). People drink the milk which has
>some bacteria in it which are resistant. If they are on antibiotics
>at the time, the strain which is being treated may pick up the
>resistant plasmid and bang goes another treatment.
>
>So hence I would predict that in a few years resistance will arrive.
>But that is not a problem - a new technique has just been
>internationally patented which dramatically increases the rate at
>which industry's can improve their production strains - which should
>mean world antibiotic prices will tumble. Hence one will be able to
>use a three treatment punch - should prohibit too much resistance.
>(at hopefully the same cost)
>
>Keep well
>
>Garth
>Garth Cambray           Camdini Apiaries
>Grahamstown             Apis mellifera capensis
>Eastern Cape Prov.
>South Africa
>
>Time = Honey
>
>After careful consideration, I have decided that if I am ever a V.I.P
>the I. may not stand for important.
>(rather influential, ignorant, idiotic, intelectual, illadvised etc)
>