Plant agricultural streptomycin formulations do not carry antibiotic resistance genes

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2009 Jul;53(7):3173-7. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00036-09. Epub 2009 May 4.

Abstract

Streptomycin is used in plant agriculture for bacterial disease control, particularly against fire blight in pome fruit orchards. Concerns that this may increase environmental antibiotic resistance have led to bans or restrictions on use. Experience with antibiotic use in animal feeds raises the possible influence of formulation-delivered resistance genes. We demonstrate that agricultural streptomycin formulations do not carry producer organism resistance genes. By using an optimized extraction procedure, Streptomyces 16S rRNA genes and the streptomycin resistance gene strA were not detected in agricultural streptomycin formulations. This diminishes the likelihood for one potential factor in resistance development due to streptomycin use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / analysis*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Plants / microbiology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Streptomyces griseus / genetics*
  • Streptomycin / analysis*
  • Streptomycin / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Streptomycin