Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is one of the leading pathogens affecting the Thai poultry industry. However, there remains little information concerning the genetic characteristics of Thai IBDVs available to predict the current field strains of IBDV. This review attempted to summarize the genotypes of IBDV in Thailand based on the newly unified genotypic classification scheme. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by using the nucleotide sequences of Thai IBDV published in the GenBank database. The results demonstrated that two genogroups of segment A, including A1 (classical) and A3 (very virulent), and two genogroups of segment B, including B1 (classical-like) and B3 (early Australian-like), were circulating in Thailand. A combination analysis of both segments A and B suggested that two genotypes of IBDV could be found in Thailand, including genotype A1B1 and A3B3. At present, no variant of IBDV has been reported in Thailand. However, it has been found in several countries that share borders with Thailand. Consequently, the molecular surveillance of IBDV should be performed continuously.
Hot red pepper (HRP) has potential as a natural enhancer of various egg nutrition and quality attributes in poultry. This study investigates the effects of HRP supplementation on the physical and chemical quality of eggs, lipid oxidation, and their fatty acid profiles. A total of 100 laying hens, 56 weeks old, were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, each consisting of five replications with five hens per replication. The dietary treatments included a basal diet (control) and HRP supplementation at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75% for 8 weeks. Eggs were collected at the end of weeks 4 and 8 to assess physical traits, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity. Additionally, fatty acid profiling was conducted at the end of week 8. The results indicated that HRP supplementation at all levels enhanced yolk colour score (P<0.001). Specifically, supplementation with 0.50% and 0.75% HRP at week 8 led to a significant reduction in cholesterol levels (P<0.05). Moreover, dietary HRP at 0.75% significantly improved DPPH inhibition at 8 week and HRP at 0,50% and 0.75%reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) in yolk (P<0.05). In conclusion, HRP supplementation improved yolk colour, antioxidant activity, and reduced cholesterol levels in eggs. These findings suggest that HRP could be a promising natural additive in poultry diets to improve the quality and health attributes of eggs, offering potential benefits for both the poultry industry and consumers.
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a protected marine mammal in Thailand, yet body condition score (BCS) assessments remain subjective and lack standardized benchmarks. This study aimed to identify key morphometric and blubber predictors of body condition score (BCS) in dugongs to develop a standardized, field-based assessment framework. To achieve this, necropsy records of 82 stranded dugongs from the Andaman Sea (2019–2025) were analyzed, summarizing morphometric and blubber data across age classes and BCS levels. Univariable and penalized ordinal logistic regression identified predictors associated with BCS, which were combined with descriptive statistics to construct heuristic thresholds. Although predictors of BCS differed across age classes, their common ground highlighted parameters that were most consistent across stages. For field application, average blubber thickness, body weight, and body condition index (BCI) were therefore selected as the robust predictors for developing heuristic thresholds. These were consolidated into BCS charts and lookup tables, providing practical morphometric cutoffs for necropsy and stranding investigations. This study represents the first attempt to establish field-based BCS assessment tools for dugongs, improving objectivity and consistency in condition evaluation. While not intended as definitive diagnostics, the thresholds enhance comparability across cases, with extreme categories (BCS 1 and 5) still requiring expert confirmation and further validation through larger sample sizes and longitudinal studies.
Various parts of Lamduan (Sphaerocoryne lefevrei (Baill.) D.M. Johnson & N.A. Murray) have long been utilized in traditional medicine to treat a range of human ailments. Nonetheless, its potential as a bioactive feed supplement in aquaculture production remains underexplored. This research assessed the impact of incorporating Lamduan fruit powder (LFP) into the diet on the growth performance, digestive enzymatic functions, mucosal immune activity, and pigmentation of Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens Regan, 1910). A total of 300 juvenile male short-tail B. splendens (average initial weight: 0.08 ± 0.01 g; total length: 1.97 ± 0.01 cm; two-month-old) were assigned to four dietary treatments with three replicates each and fed experimental diets containing 0, 10, 30, and 50 g/kg of LFP for eight weeks. Results revealed that the group receiving 50 g/kg exhibited significantly enhanced growth metrics (p < 0.05), while parameters such as feed efficiency, survival rate, and viscerosomatic index remained statistically unchanged (p > 0.05). Enzyme-specific activities, including amylase, protease, and lipase, along with mucus-based immune markers such as total protein, IgM, anti-protease, myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and total protease, were markedly improved in fish fed LFP-enriched diets. Moreover, antioxidant capacity and carotenoid deposition in skin and muscle tissues were significantly elevated. Based on second-order polynomial regression, an LFP inclusion of 27.18–28.58 g/kg is recommended as a practical level to maximize pigmentation while maintaining acceptable growth. The findings highlight the potential of LFP as a functional dietary supplement to enhance both health status and coloration in ornamental fish
Probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus spp., play a key role in supporting host health by modulating the gut and oral microbiota, enhancing immune responses, and maintaining microbial balance. While microbial diversity and composition are crucial for gastrointestinal and oral health, the impact of new Lactobacillus strains on healthy dogs has not been fully explored. This study evaluated the impact of new Lactobacillus strains on the gut and oral microbiota of healthy dogs. A sample of 35 adult dogs was divided into seven groups. Group 1 received a basal diet, while Groups 2–6 received individual Lactobacillus strain supplements: L. plantarum CM20-8 (TISTR 2676), L. acidophilus Im10 (TISTR 2734), L. rhamnosus L12-2 (TISTR 2716), L. paracasei KT-5 (TISTR 2688), and L. fermentum CM14-8 (TISTR 2720), respectively. Group 7 received a mixed probiotic supplement containing all five strains. Each dog received the respective L. strain at 10⁹ CFU/day. Fecal and oral microbiota were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Based on the results, probiotic supplementation did not significantly change the overall microbial diversity. Dogs supplemented with L. fermentum CM14-8 (TISTR 2720) had a significantly (p=0.02) higher abundance (1.97%) of the beneficial genus Faecalibacterium in fecal samples than the control group (0.64%). In oral microbiota, compared to the control group, there were significant (p=0.03) reductions in the abundance of the Desulfobacterota in dogs receiving L. acidophilus Im10 (2.19%), L. rhamnosus L12-2 (2.32%), L. paracasei KT-5 (2.59%), L. fermentum CM14-8 (2.11%), and the mixed probiotic (2.69%). These findings highlighted the potential of specific probiotic strains, especially L. fermentum CM14-8, to modulate oral and gut microbiota in healthy dogs. Further studies are essential in clinical populations and functional assessments to define their preventive and therapeutic applications.
