DNA from the antibiotic resistant bacteria found in the American cattle yards has become airborne.
By this the bacteria can spread to humans.
Around 10 commercial cattle yards within 200 mile radius of Lubbock, researches have gathered airborne particular matter over the period of 6 months.
The study found that the particular matter contain antibiotics, bacteria and microbial communities containing antibiotic resistant genes.
Researchers in environmental toxicology at Texas Tech University and at a testing lab in Lubbock said, “To our knowledge, this study is among the first to detect and quantify antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes…associated with airborne PM emitted from beef cattle feed yards.”
One of the author said the bacteria could have been travelling for long distances.
Cows don’t absorb antibiotics and they release it into the environment through excretion. The bacteria undergo natural selection in the environment that makes it immune to antibiotics.
The antibiotic resistant genes contained in the dried fecal matter which has become dust and are carried away by the winds.
The DNA which is resistant to antibiotic can be transferred to humans by consuming water and meat containing those genes.