October 27, 2009
Globalisation transmits human diseases to livestock
Animals are now picking up human disease, possibly as a result of globalisation, according to a study from The Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The study's researchers said the Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria crossed between species 40 years ago, when farming techniques became more intensive. The researchers also said fewer breeding lines in an industry dominated by multinationals have helped spread bacteria.
The researchers found that a form of Staphylococcus Aureus remained confined to one geographic area in humans, while in chickens it spread across different continents.
The bacteria are a major cause of animal diseases, including bone infections in poultry.
