.jpg)
4 hours ago
1
Article content
Ionophores, Commonly Used in Animal Agriculture, Found to Contribute to Antibiotic Resistance in Humans
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.
- Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
- Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.
- Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
- Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
- Enjoy additional articles per month
- Get email updates from your favourite authors
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
Salisbury, MD, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new study, published in mSphere, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, suggests some antibiotics used in conventional poultry farming may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in humans. This research, conducted by Dr. Alex Wong, Asalia Ibrahim and Jason Au of Carleton University’s Department of Biology, focuses on ionophores, a class of antibiotics commonly used in conventional poultry farming and previously described as “not important to human medicine.”
Article content
Article content
Article content
“This research underscores the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of animal and human health,” explains Dr. Alex Wong. “While ionophores have long been considered safe for use in poultry to prevent parasitic infections, this study suggests that ionophore use could fuel the growth of antibiotic resistance to medically relevant drugs.”
Article content
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Article content
This study highlights the ongoing research and critical discussion about responsible antibiotic use in animal agriculture, showcasing the potentially negative long-term human and animal health effects of using antibiotics in animal production, even those not presently deemed “important to human medicine.”
Article content
The study found:
Article content
- Bacterial pathogens around the world have genes (narA and narB) that allow them to resist ionophores.
- These genes are often found linked to other resistance genes that protect bacteria from human antibiotics.
- When ionophores are used, they can unintentionally encourage bacteria to carry both types of resistance – making them harder to kill with medicines we need and increasing the risk of clinically significant antimicrobial resistance spreading from animal agriculture to human healthcare systems.
Article content
Article content
The study’s findings contribute to the ongoing scientific conversation about antibiotic resistance and inform future research and policy decisions and provides evidence that the widespread use of ionophores potentially threaten human health.
Article content
“This study surprised me. Personally, I’ve been dismissing the use of ionophores for years because we didn’t have this evidence. This study suggests that it could be driving resistance to the drugs we do care about. When animal producers use ionophores they can drive the growth of bacteria that are resistant to our most important medicines,” Lance Price, M.S. Ph.D., Professor at George Washington’s (GW) Milken Institute School of Public Health and Founding Director of GW’s Antibiotic Resistance Action Center.
Article content
Perdue Takes No Chances with Animal or Human Health, Standing Firm on Its Decade-Long ‘No Antibiotics Ever’ Commitment
Article content
Ionophore use in poultry has been on the rise after a reintroduction of usage by large producers—with some poultry companies relying on routine use of the drug class for preventing illness. However, Perdue Farms took a trailblazing approach by committing to No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) in 2016, shunning the use of all antibiotics including ionophores.
English (US)