We investigated the effects of bovine antibiotic growth promoters (bAGPs) on the propagation and spread of Shiga toxin (Stx)–encoding phages in Escherichia coli. Co-culture of E. coli O157:H7 and other E. coli isolated from cattle in the presence of sublethal concentrations of bAGPs significantly increased the emergence of non-O157, Stx-producing E. coli by triggering the SOS response system in E. coli O157:H7. The most substantial mediation of Stx phage transmission was induced by oxytetracyline and chlortetracycline, which are commonly used in agriculture.
bAGPs may therefore contribute to the expansion of pathogenic Stx-producing E. coli.
Expansion of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli by use of bovine antibiotic growth promoters
Volume 22, Number 5 – May 2016
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Jong-Chul Kim, Linda Chui, Yang Wang, Jianzhong Shen, and Byeonghwa Jeon
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/22/5/15-1584_article