Industrial chicken farming accelerating spread of diarrhoea bacteria, study finds
A new study suggests that intensive industrial chicken farming is facilitating the evolution and spread of campylobacter, a common cause of human diarrhea. The research highlights how the massive increase in chicken populations creates a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Why it matters
This poses a significant public health risk, as the rise of resistant bacterial strains makes foodborne illnesses harder to treat.
There are about 27 billion chickens in the world, a seven-fold increase since the 1960s. There are about 27 billion chickens in the world, a seven-fold increase since the 1960s. Chicken Industrial chicken farming accelerating spread of diarrhoea bacteria, study finds Intensive nature of modern chicken farming creates ideal conditions for campylobacter , allowing bacteria to evolve
Prefer the Guardian on Google Industrial chicken farming is accelerating the spread of the world’s most common bacterial cause of diarrhoea, scientists have found.
The study found a dramatic increase in the exchange of campylobacter strains between wild birds and chickens as farming has intensified, creating the ideal conditions for the bacteria to mix, spread and acquire new traits. There has also been a rise in antimicrobial resistance traits in circulating strains, raising concerns that serious illness in people will be more difficult to treat.
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