Nature 243, 237 - 238 (25 May 1973); doi:10.1038/243237a0

Effect of Prohibition of the Use of Tetracyclines in Animal Feeds on Tetracycline Resistance of Faecal E. coli of Pigs

H. WILLIAMS SMITH

Houghton Poultry Research Station, Houghton, Huntingdon PE17 2DA

ALTHOUGH the use of tetracyclines in pig food in Britain was prohibited in March 1971 because of the accumulation of tetracycline-resistant Escherichia coli in the alimentary tract of pigs so fed, the veterinary use of tetracyclines continues. To assess the effect of this prohibition, I compared the incidence of these organisms in pigs brought to Chelmsford market in 1956, 1970 and July 1972.

References

1.	Smith, H. W., J. Med. Microbiol., 3, 165 (1970).