More on antibiotic resistant bacteria in natural waters and wild-harvested foods.

I wrote an article on 05/12/2012 about our isolation of antibiotic-resistant genes in bacteria in water and in stream and river muds, comparing pristine waters with polluted ones along a stretch of a river in the Waikato region of New Zealand.

I recently read another article by Jack Heinemann and Sophie Joy van Hamelsveld from University of Canterbury in Stuff:  https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300930926/antibioticresistant-bacteria-in-wild-cockles-and-watercress-putting-people-at-risk-of-serious-illness.  It's worth a read.

The article raises yet another concern about antibiotic resistance.  The testing of water for recreational use does not guarantee that mahinga kai, wild-harvested foods, such as shellfish, are safe to eat.  Shellfish can concentrate bacteria from the water to high levels, even when the tested water appears to be safe.