Background and Aim: A conventional feeding bowl is the primary method that dog owners use to feed their dogs, but this may not encourage natural behaviors and may even exacerbate unwanted behaviors. This study aimed to compare a conventional feeding bowl to a feeding toy in relation to behavior, cortisol levels, and heart rate variability (HRV). Materials and Methods: The behaviors of four dogs were recorded and analyzed while being fed using either a stainless bowl (B) or a feeding toy (T) and either alone (A) or accompanied by a dog owner (O) for 30 min with each treatment (BA, BO, TA, and TO treatments). The dogs that were fed alone with the stainless bowl (BC) or the feeding toy (TC) were fed for 15 min/day for 7 days with their treatment, and serum cortisol levels measured on the first and last days of treatment. The dogs fed by the stainless bowl (BH) or the feeding toy (TH) with the owner present for 15 min for each treatment had their heart rate (HR) and HRV recorded by Polar® H10 during feedings The results were compared using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measure ANOVA, and Student’s t-test. Results: The dogs spent more time eating and interacting with the feeding toys than stainless bowls. The activity of the dogs was higher when using feeding toys, particularly with the TO treatment. Cortisol levels were significantly lower on day 7 than on day 1 of the TC treatment. The dogs’ HR was higher during TH treatment than during BH treatment. All HRV parameters were decreased significantly when feeding the dog with the toys. Conclusion: The results of this study support the idea that feeding enrichment supports the natural feeding behaviors of dogs as they mimic hunting and playing behaviors. This reduced unwanted behavior, cortisol levels, and HRV, and increased food consumption, eating duration, and active behaviors. The presence of the dog’s owner is important because it can enhance feeding and active behaviors, and feeding enrichment can improve the dog’s welfare and the dog-human relationship. Keywords: cortisol, dog behavior, dog welfare, dog-human relationship, feeding toy, heart rate variability.

Preserving wildlife and their environment from anthropogenic activities requires identification and establishment of protected areas, and monitoring of their long-term effects on wildlife and habitat. Tropical forests are one of the most at-risk habitats and many tropical species have become extinct recently due to human activity. It is imperative to monitor habitat in protected areas and without in order to identify strategies and legislative policies that optimize conservation outcomes. To this end, I quantified habitat fragmentation for the great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) in Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, pre- and post-establishment, within and outside the protected area, from 1973, 1985, and 1992, to assess the effectiveness of the protected area status, established in 1978, and a national logging ban, established in 1989, in preserving and restoring hornbill habitat. The results demonstrate that the establishment of Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary did not decrease the rate of hornbill habitat fragmentation relative to areas outside the protected area. While the protected area had less fragmentation to begin with, protection status did not affect the rate of loss. Fragmentation increased significantly both inside and outside the protected area between the first and second time points (p < 0.05), after the protected area was first established. However, the national logging ban policy implemented in 1985 seems to have successfully halted the fragmentation of habitat within the protected area and surrounding unprotected areas, with all areas showing no significant change (p > 0.05). While not significant, the rate of fragmentation outside the protected area was greater. This suggests that the establishment of a protected area alone may not be sufficient to stop or reverse anthropogenic damage to endangered habitat and the species that utilize these environments. The incorporation of multiple strategies for management is likely needed to increase the ability of protected areas to preserve tropical forest species and habitats. The assessment of protected areas via satellite and ground-level data is an essential tool for evaluating the effectiveness of conservation strategies and improving outcomes.

Background and Aim: A conventional feeding bowl is the primary method that dog owners use to feed their dogs, but this may not encourage natural behaviors and may even exacerbate unwanted behaviors. This study aimed to compare a conventional feeding bowl to a feeding toy in relation to behavior, cortisol levels, and heart rate variability (HRV). Materials and Methods: The behaviors of four dogs were recorded and analyzed while being fed using either a stainless bowl (B) or a feeding toy (T) and either alone (A) or accompanied by a dog owner (O) for 30 min with each treatment (BA, BO, TA, and TO treatments). The dogs that were fed alone with the stainless bowl (BC) or the feeding toy (TC) were fed for 15 min/day for 7 days with their treatment, and serum cortisol levels measured on the first and last days of treatment. The dogs fed by the stainless bowl (BH) or the feeding toy (TH) with the owner present for 15 min for each treatment had their heart rate (HR) and HRV recorded by Polar® H10 during feedings The results were compared using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measure ANOVA, and Student’s t-test. Results: The dogs spent more time eating and interacting with the feeding toys than stainless bowls. The activity of the dogs was higher when using feeding toys, particularly with the TO treatment. Cortisol levels were significantly lower on day 7 than on day 1 of the TC treatment. The dogs’ HR was higher during TH treatment than during BH treatment. All HRV parameters were decreased significantly when feeding the dog with the toys. Conclusion: The results of this study support the idea that feeding enrichment supports the natural feeding behaviors of dogs as they mimic hunting and playing behaviors. This reduced unwanted behavior, cortisol levels, and HRV, and increased food consumption, eating duration, and active behaviors. The presence of the dog’s owner is important because it can enhance feeding and active behaviors, and feeding enrichment can improve the dog’s welfare and the dog-human relationship. Keywords: cortisol, dog behavior, dog welfare, dog-human relationship, feeding toy, heart rate variability.

The emergence of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) in livestock poses a major public health concern due to its zoonotic potential and multidrug resistance (MDR). The study aimed to detect mobilized colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 to mcr-9) in E. coli isolates, along with characterizing their antimicrobial susceptibility, resistance genes, virulence genes, and whole genome sequencing. We investigated E. coli contamination in a swine slaughterhouse in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. A total of 200 fecal samples were collected and screened for E. coli using selective media supplemented with colistin. A total of 200 fecal samples were collected from a swine slaughterhouse and screened for E. coli using selective media supplemented with colistin. Presumptive E. coli isolates were confirmed by PCR, followed by molecular detection of mcr-1 to mcr-9 genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. Selected isolates were further analyzed for additional antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence associated genes by PCR. Whole genome sequencing was conducted on representative isolates exhibiting high levels of antimicrobial resistance. Our results showed that out of 200 fecal samples, 124 presumptive E. coli isolates were recovered from a swine slaughterhouse using selective media containing colistin. PCR confirmation identified 112 isolates (90.32%) as E. coli. Molecular detection of mobilized colistin resistance (mcr) genes (82 isolates, 73.21%) demonstrated that mcr-1 (50.89%) was the most prevalent, followed by mcr-9 (25.89%) and mcr-3 (24.11%). Overall, the 82 mcr E. coli isolates showed the highest level of resistance to ampicillin (97.56%), followed by tetracycline (95.12%), piperacillin (73.17%), and chloramphenicol (65.85%). For non-mcr E. coli isolates, the highest resistance percentage was observed for ampicillin (96.67%), followed by piperacillin (80%) and tetracycline (73.33%). Among the isolates, 75% exhibited MDR phenotypes, showing 22 distinct resistance profiles. The most common MDR pattern was AMP-PIP-TE-C-S (12.5%). Additional antimicrobial resistance genes, including aadA, ampC, and bla_TEM, were detected in over 60% of a subset of 30 tested isolates. The virulence gene analysis revealed that eae (74.10%), associated with enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), was the predominant pathotype. Whole genome sequencing of five selected isolates confirmed the presence of multiple antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants. In conclusion, this study reveals a high prevalence of MDR E. coli harboring colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 to mcr-9) in a swine slaughterhouse in southern Thailand. The findings highlight the potential risk of zoonotic transmission of antimicrobial resistant E. coli through the food production chain and emphasize the importance of continuous genomic surveillance and prudent antimicrobial use in livestock production systems.