Bacteria Threatens Rhinos in Kenya
2020-03-03
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1Rhinoceros in Kenya could face a new threat: bacteria.
2Scientists recently found that some rhinos have developed surprisingly high levels of resistance to antibiotic drugs.
3The researchers studied rhinos in Ruma National Park, a wildlife area near Lake Victoria.
4They said the animals appear to have become victims of the overuse of antibiotics.
5The researchers' findings appeared in EcoHealth, an academic publication based in the United States.
6Antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide for many reasons.
7Sometimes, people take the drugs for non-bacterial diseases.
8Other times, people do not finish taking their medicine, giving bacteria time to recover and adapt.
9And in many cases, farmers overuse antibiotics on their cattle and other livestock.
10In Kenya, antibiotic use and abuse has been common for many years.
11This overuse has led to growing levels of drug resistance among people, livestock and wildlife.
12To study resistance levels, the team of scientists took samples from 16 black rhinoceros.
13Researchers examined E. coli bacteria genes in both rhino and human waste and studied how resistant they were to eight of the most commonly used antibiotics.
14Rhinos and human beings had comparable resistance levels for four of the antibiotics.
15Rhinos were more resistant than humans for two of them.
16Antibiotic resistance is a problem because rhinos can get the bacterial disease bovine tuberculosis, according to researchers in South Africa's Kruger National Park.
17Antibiotic resistance could make treatment harder.
18Collins Kipkorir Kebenei was a member of the research team and a co-author of the report.
19"If they (rhinos) are sick, they need to be treated - and so what kind of medication can be used on these animals?" he said.
20Kebenei is a student at Kenya's Maseno University.
21Rhinos are already critically endangered.
22There are only about 29,000 alive, according to the International Rhino Foundation. Around 5% of the animals are in Kenya.
23It is unclear how the rhinos are getting exposed to the bacteria.
24It could be through drinking at the Lambwe River, which runs through Ruma National Park and carries waste containing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
25Or it could be through contact with the park rangers protecting them from hunters.
26Patrick Onyango, a co-author of the report, said that antibiotic resistance was a new and serious threat to rhinos.
27"There are people who are hawking antibiotics in bus stations," added David M. Onyango, another co-author of the report.
28Onyango teaches at Maseno University.
29He suggested that a lack of rules surrounding antibiotic use might be part of the problem.
30"There is no proper policy and regulation on their use," he said.
31I'm John Russell.
1Rhinoceros in Kenya could face a new threat: bacteria. 2Scientists recently found that some rhinos have developed surprisingly high levels of resistance to antibiotic drugs. 3The researchers studied rhinos in Ruma National Park, a wildlife area near Lake Victoria. They said the animals appear to have become victims of the overuse of antibiotics. 4The researchers' findings appeared in EcoHealth, an academic publication based in the United States. 5Antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide for many reasons. Sometimes, people take the drugs for non-bacterial diseases. Other times, people do not finish taking their medicine, giving bacteria time to recover and adapt. And in many cases, farmers overuse antibiotics on their cattle and other livestock. 6In Kenya, antibiotic use and abuse has been common for many years. This overuse has led to growing levels of drug resistance among people, livestock and wildlife. 7To study resistance levels, the team of scientists took samples from 16 black rhinoceros. 8Researchers examined E. coli bacteria genes in both rhino and human waste and studied how resistant they were to eight of the most commonly used antibiotics. 9Rhinos and human beings had comparable resistance levels for four of the antibiotics. Rhinos were more resistant than humans for two of them. 10Antibiotic resistance is a problem because rhinos can get the bacterial disease bovine tuberculosis, according to researchers in South Africa's Kruger National Park. 11Antibiotic resistance could make treatment harder. 12Collins Kipkorir Kebenei was a member of the research team and a co-author of the report. "If they (rhinos) are sick, they need to be treated - and so what kind of medication can be used on these animals?" he said. Kebenei is a student at Kenya's Maseno University. 13Rhinos are already critically endangered. There are only about 29,000 alive, according to the International Rhino Foundation. Around 5% of the animals are in Kenya. 14It is unclear how the rhinos are getting exposed to the bacteria. It could be through drinking at the Lambwe River, which runs through Ruma National Park and carries waste containing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Or it could be through contact with the park rangers protecting them from hunters. 15Patrick Onyango, a co-author of the report, said that antibiotic resistance was a new and serious threat to rhinos. 16"There are people who are hawking antibiotics in bus stations," added David M. Onyango, another co-author of the report. Onyango teaches at Maseno University. He suggested that a lack of rules surrounding antibiotic use might be part of the problem. "There is no proper policy and regulation on their use," he said. 17I'm John Russell. 18Ayenat Mersie reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 19________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21academic - adj. of or related to a school or study program 22adapt - v. biology - to change so that it is easier to live in a place or situation 23livestock - n. farm animals (such as cows, horses, and pigs) that are kept, raised, and used by people 24according - adv. as stated by or in 25author - n. a writer of a report or work 26hawk - v. to offer (something) for sale especially by calling out or by going from one person to another 27regulation - n. an official rule or law that says how something should be done 28We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.