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    Improvements in Blood Profiles of Canines Naturally Infected with Triple Blood Pathogens (Babesia vogeli, Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma platys) Subsequent to Doxycycline Monotherapy
    (2024-12-01)
    Wongtawan, Tuempong
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    Boonchuay, Kanpapat
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    Chiawwit, Phatcharaporn
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    Wongtawan, Oraphan
    Multiple blood pathogen infections are increasingly found in many areas, particularly in tropical regions. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of using doxycycline monotherapy to treat triple blood pathogen infection in sheltered dogs. A total of 375 sheltered dogs were screened for blood pathogen using polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR). There were 34 dogs with triple infection (Babesia vogeli, Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma platys), and most dogs displayed anemia and thrombocytopenia. These dogs were treated with doxycycline (10 mg/kg/day) orally for four weeks, and their blood profiles were monitored. Almost all pathogens were undetectable by PCR by day 14 and pathogens were all cleared by day 28. Most blood profiles significantly improved after 14 days. The improvement continued after 28 days. The red blood cell and platelet count (PLT) were increased in similar trends between mild-to-moderate and severe thrombocytopenia groups. The average PLT in the mild-to-moderate thrombocytopenia group raised to normal level by day 14, whereas in the severe group, it was gradually increased to normal level by day 70. We propose using doxycycline monotherapy for 28 days to eliminate all pathogens, and facilitate recovery and welfare in dogs suffering with triple blood pathogen infections.
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    Prevalence of gastrointestinal and blood parasites in horses of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand
    (2024-11-01)
    Phetkarl, Tanakorn
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    Fungwithaya, Punpichaya
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    Background and Aim: The global prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) and blood parasite infections in horses is a significant concern due to their substantial impact on morbidity, mortality, and economic losses in the horse industry. In Thailand, limited research has been conducted on these parasites in horse populations, and data from southern Thailand are lacking. Consequently, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of GI and blood parasites in horses in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand. Materials and Methods: In total, 79 fecal and blood samples were collected from horses across 11 farms in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The fecal examination was conducted using simple flotation, formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation, and a modified McMaster technique. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify blood and strongyle parasites. The influence of sex, age, and body condition score on the prevalence of GI parasites was also analyzed. Results: Six GI parasites were detected: four nematodes (Oxyuris equi, Parascaris equorum, strongyles, and Strongyloides westeri), one trematode (Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus), and one protozoan (Eimeria leuckarti). The overall prevalence of GI parasites was 74.7%, with single strongyle infections accounting for the highest proportion at 50.6%, followed by co-infections of strongyles and G. aegyptiacus at 10.1%. All 11 pooled strongyle samples were positive for cyathostomins and Strongylus vulgaris using conventional PCR with specific primers. Sex was significantly associated with the overall prevalence of GI parasites, whereas both sex and age were significant risk factors for infection by strongyle parasites. Theileria equi was the only blood parasite species detected in the surveyed horses, with a prevalence of 1.3% (n = 1/79). Conclusion: This study is the first to estimate the prevalence of GI and blood parasites in horses from Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand. These findings highlight the importance of implementing control measures against GI parasites and are pivotal for developing effective infection prevention strategies.
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    Preliminary study on prevalence of hemoprotozoan parasites harbored by Stomoxys (Diptera: Muscidae) and tabanid flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in horse farms in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Southern Thailand
    (2023-01-01)
    Phetkarl, Tanakorn
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    Fungwithaya, Punpichaya
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    Udompornprasith, Supak
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    Amendt, Jens
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    Background and Aim: Stomoxys and tabanid flies are of medical and veterinary importance because they play crucial roles in disease transmission as mechanical vectors of various hemopathogens. However, its role as a hemoprotozoan parasite vector in horse farms has not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the occurrence of hemoprotozoan parasites belonging to the genera Babesia, Theileria, and Trypanosoma in Stomoxys and tabanid flies using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. Materials and Methods: All samples (Stomoxys and tabanid flies) were collected using an Nzi trap for three consecutive days each month from November 2022 to March 2023. The flies were morphologically identified to the species level and separated according to sex. Individual (for tabanid flies) or pooled samples (consisting of three specimens of Stomoxys flies of the same species and sex collected from the same site) were used for DNA extraction. Conventional PCR was used to screen for hemoprotozoan parasite DNA, followed by Sanger sequencing to identify the species. Results: In total, 189 biting flies were collected, including four species of Stomoxys (Stomoxys bengalensis, Stomoxys calcitrans, Stomoxys indicus, and Stomoxys sitiens) and five species of tabanids (Atylotus cryptotaxis, Chrysops dispar, Tabanus megalops, Tabanus mesogaeus, and Tabanus rubidus). Stomoxys calcitrans was the most prevalent species, accounting for 58.7% (n = 111) of the collected flies. Ten (12.4%) of the 81 samples (individuals and pools) analyzed by PCR were positive for the 18S rRNA gene of the Theileria/Babesia species. Trypanosoma DNA was not detected in any sample. After performing Basic Local Alignment Search Tool searches and a phylogenetic analysis, only six samples (7.4%), including S. calcitrans (n = 2), S. sitiens (n = 2), T. megalops (n = 1), and A. cryptotaxis (n = 1), were found to be infected with Theileria sinensis. Furthermore, apicomplexan parasites, namely, Mattesia spp. and Colpodella spp., were found on S. indicus, the fungus Meira spp. was found on S. calcitrans, and the pathogenic green alga Helicosporidium spp. was found on A. cryptotaxis. Conclusion: This study is the first to report a variety of Stomoxys and tabanid flies collected from horse farms in Thailand, which were found to be infected with Theileria and Colpodella species that affect mammals, suggesting that Stomoxys and tabanid flies can be used to confirm the presence of hemoprotozoan parasites in the study area. Understanding the presence of hemoprotozoa in flies could help design vector control programs and manage various diseases in the study area.
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    Seasonal Infective Dynamics and Risk Factors Associated with Prevalence of Zoonotic Gastrointestinal Parasites from Meat Goats in Southern Thailand
    (2025-07-01) ;
    Sansamur, Chalutwan
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    Klong-Klaew, Tunwadee
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    Kaewthamasorn, Morakot
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    Fungwithaya, Punpichaya
    Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites not only significantly impact goat health and productivity but can also affect human health due to the zoonotic potential of some species. This study investigates the prevalence of internal parasites within the tropical monsoon ecosystem of southern Thailand, focusing on both phenotypic and molecular characteristics of the parasites and identifying associated risk factors in caprine farming systems. A total of 276 meat goats from Nakhon Si Thammarat province were examined, indicating an overall GI parasite prevalence of 88.8% (245/276), with strongyles and Eimeria spp. identified as the dominant parasites. In addition, mixed parasitic infections were observed in 72.2% of cases, whereas single infections comprised 27.8%. Strongyle-positive fecal samples were cultured and genetically sequenced, revealing the presence of Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, and Oesophagostomum asperum. For associated risk factors, gender and grazing with other herds significantly impacted overall GI parasitic infections, while the gender, breed, and packed cell volume (PCV) affected the strongyle infection. A correlation analysis revealed a substantial relationship between strongyle egg per gram (EPG) counts and clinical parameters, indicating that monitoring animals with low body condition scores (BCS) and high Faffa Malan Chart (FAMACHA) scores could be an effective strategy for controlling strongyle infections. These findings highlight the importance of continued research and effective farm management practices to address strongyle infections in meat goats, improving their health and agricultural productivity in tropical regions. Moreover, the detection of four zoonotic parasites (Giardia spp., H. contortus, T. colubriformis, and Fasciola spp.) indicates the necessity for the routine surveillance and monitoring of zoonotic parasites in goats to mitigate potential human health risks.
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    Epidemiology and Antimicrobial-Resistant Genes of Family Staphylococcaceae in Musca domestica: Case Studies from Chicken Farm, Pig Farms, and Residential Areas in Southern Thailand
    (2026-05-01) ;
    Thanawan, Nattharee
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    Fungwithaya, Punpichaya
    The major Staphylococcaceae family is recognized as opportunistic pathogens colonizing human and animal skin, mucous membranes, and environments. Musca domestica, the house fly, plays a role in the transmission of AMR bacteria. This study focused on examining the epidemiology and antimicrobial-resistant genes of the family Staphylococcaceae in M. domestica through metagenomic analysis, using samples collected from three animal farms and two residential areas in southern Thailand. Fifty M. domestica were collected from five places surrounding Walailak University, including one chicken farm (CF1), two pig farms (PF2 and PF3), and two residential areas (H1 and H2). All samples were dispatched for analysis using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and analyzed using FastQC, MultiQC, FASTQ, MEGAHIT, QUAST, ABRicate, AMRFinderPlus, ResFinder, ARG-ANNOT, MEGARES, PlasmidFinder, VFDB, Kraken2, Krona and Python. Our findings describe the taxonomic composition of Staphylococcaceae taxa in M. domestica from different environments; the representation of the family Staphylococcaceae in CF1, PF2, PF3, H1, and H2 was recorded at 2%, 0.7%, 0.2%, 0.2%, and 2% of this phylum, respectively. The average populations discovered were Staphylococcus (37.4%), Mammaliicoccus (17.4%), and Macrococcus (10.3%), respectively. Trimethoprim-resistant genes (dfrG and dfrE) were found only in CF1, PF2, and H1. Interestingly, fosfomycin-resistant genes were found only in M. domestica within residential areas. Our findings pertain to the Staphylococcaceae population in M. domestica within residential areas, which exhibited varying multidrug-resistance genes, particularly those resistant to fosfomycin.
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    Species Diversity and Seasonal Abundance of Stomoxyinae (Diptera: Muscidae) and Tabanid Flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) on a Beef Cattle and a Buffalo Farm in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Southern Thailand
    (2024-10-01)
    Phetcharat, Yotsapat
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    Wongtawan, Tuempong
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    Fungwithaya, Punpichaya
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    Amendt, Jens
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    This study investigated species diversity and seasonal abundance of Stomoxyinae and tabanid flies, which are significant pests and vectors of animal pathogens, on a beef cattle and a buffalo farm in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, southern Thailand. During a one-year period from December 2020 to November 2021, flies were collected using Nzi traps from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. over three consecutive days each month, resulting in the capture of 1912 biting flies, representing seven Stomoxyinae and nine tabanid species. The five most prevalent species were Tabanus megalops, Haematobia irritans exigua, Stomoxys calcitrans, Stomoxys indicus, and Stomoxys uruma. Fly density was notably higher on the beef cattle farm compared to the buffalo farm, with most species peaking during the rainy season, except for H. i. exigua, which was more abundant during the dry season. This study also examined the influence of temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall on fly density, revealing species-specific patterns. These findings offer updated insights into species diversity and seasonal trends, providing critical baseline data essential for the development of effective control strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of these flies on livestock health.
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    Field-based and molecular evaluation of anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal strongyle nematodes of meat goats in Southern Thailand
    (2025-08-01) ;
    Sansamur, Chalutwan
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    Klong-Klaew, Tunwadee
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    Mektrirat, Raktham
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    Kaewthamasorn, Morakot
    Background and Aim: Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) such as Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis are major health threats in goats, exacerbated by growing anthelmintic resistance (AR). Despite the widespread use of albendazole and ivermectin in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Southern Thailand, data on AR status in goats remain scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the resistance of GINs to albendazole and ivermectin using fecal egg count reduction (FECR) tests and to determine benzimidazole (BZ) resistance through molecular detection of the F200Y mutation in the β-tubulin isotype 1 gene. Materials and Methods: A total of 192 meat goats from six farms were randomly divided into four groups: untreated control, albendazole-treated, ivermectin-treated, and combination-treated. FECR was assessed on day 14 post-treatment. Larval cultures and semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to identify nematode genera. BZ resistance was determined through allele-specific PCR on H. contortus and T. colubriformis third-stage larvae, pre- and post-albendazole treatment. Results: FECR revealed confirmed resistance (FECR < 95%) to albendazole (−35.48%–62.5%), ivermectin (−2.41%–51.47%), and their combination (−25%–48.36%) across all farms. Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus were the predominant genera post-treatment. Molecular analysis showed high pre-treatment frequencies of the F200Y resistance allele in H. contortus (75.0%–80.6%) and T. colubriformis (88.6%–100%), which reached 100% post-treatment. Susceptible genotypes were entirely eliminated following albendazole treatment. Conclusion: This is the first comprehensive study confirming widespread AR to albendazole and ivermectin in meat goats in southern Thailand. The fixation of the BZ resistance allele in both nematode species highlights the urgency for revising current deworming practices. Immediate adoption of integrated parasite management strategies, including drug rotation, targeted selective treatment, and exploration of alternative anthelmintics, is critical to mitigate economic losses and protect public health.
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    Age-related comparative study of C-reactive protein, lipid profile biomarkers, and strongyle nematode gastrointestinal parasitic burden in horses
    (2026-10-01)
    Phetkarl, Tanakorn
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    Boonchuay, Kanpapat
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    Sansamur, Chalutwan
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    Semmarath, Warathit
    Background Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infection remains one of the most prevalent and economically significant health challenges in equine populations. The infective stages of GI parasites can activate systemic inflammatory responses and disrupt lipid metabolism leading to exacerbation of parasitic infection. Moreover, age-related low-grade chronic inflammation may further contribute to the persistent infection which impacts the health status of individual horses. Aims/Objective This study examined serum levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipid profile parameters to identify age-related patterns in horses in the high prevalence area of GI parasitic infection in Southern Thailand. Methods Seventy-seven horses were categorized into four age groups: foal (<1 year); young (1–3.99 years); early adult (4–10 years); and late adult (>10 years) and were examined for fecal helminth eggs and fecal egg count (EPG) using a modified McMaster technique. The serum CRP, and lipid profile parameters including total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), LDL: HDL, and TC:HDL ratios were determined. Results Strongyle nematodes, including cyathostomins and Strongylus vulgaris were detected with the prevalence >60% of horses across all age groups. CRP, TC, and LDL-C levels increased significantly with age (p < 0.01), while HDL-C levels significantly declined in the late adult group when compared with other age groups (p = 0.0037). Among all age groups of horses, Spearman correlation (ρ) and binary logistic regression (odd ratio: OR [95%CI]) revealed that serum CRP, and LDL-C levels were positively associated with the EPG of strongyle nematode helminths. While HDL-C levels showed negative correlation. CRP, LDL: HDL, and TC:HDL ratios were identified as the risk factors for strongyle nematode GI infection. Using the ROC analysis, the cut-off values of CRP (>0.49 mg/L; %sensitivity [SS] = 72.97, %specificity [SP] =75.00), LDL: HDL (>2.476; %SS=64.29, %SP=71.43), and TC: HDL (>5.198; %SS=51.22, %SP=83.33%) could help predict the strongyle nematode GI parasitic infection in horses. Conclusions These findings highlight the diagnostic potential of CRP and cholesterol index as the prognostic biomarkers and disease monitoring in equine strongyle nematode infection to provide the proper management and intervention to current parasite management strategies.
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