Researchers isolate a bacterium in chicken transmitting multidrug resistant pathogen to humans

Researchers from Hyderabad have isolated Helicobacter pullorum bacterium in chicken that may be source of transmission of the multidrug resistance pathogen to humans.
This is the first evidence on prevalence and isolation of H. pullorum multidrug resistance bacterium from broilers and free-range chicken sold in Indian markets.
What is Helicobacter pullorum?
Helicobacter pullorum is a pathogen commonly found in the liver and gut of poultry birds including chickens. It is untreatable and may be cancer-causing. It is being suspected that H. pullorum is resistant wide range of antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins,   sulfonamides and macrolides
What are ill effects on human health?
Infected chicken with Helicobacter pullorum bacterium when consumed are known to cause gastrointestinal infections in humans.  Besides, Helicobacter pullorum is known to produce a cancercausing agent called cytolethal distending toxin. This toxin damages the DNA and interferes with the cell cycle. Since this multidrug resistance bacterium also infects the liver, it increases the risk of cancer in the organ.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2016