This study aimed to increase the resistant starch (RS) content of cassava starch via heat-moisture treatment (HMT) and evaluate its prebiotic potential in chicken feed. The HMT involved autoclaving cassava starch at 20% moisture content and 121°C for 1 h (HMT-20), which yielded a high RS content (20.7%) in the cooked starch. In vitro fermentation with Limosilactobacillus reuteri TBRC291 demonstrated the promising prebiotic potential of cooked HMT-20, comparable to that of commercial fructo-oligosaccharides, as indicated by enhanced bacterial growth, reduced pH, and increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. A 1% concentration of cooked HMT-20 was identified as optimal for prebiotic use. In the in vivo assessment, chickens were given feed supplemented with 1% cooked HMT-20 (HMT-Feed), displaying no adverse effects on growth performance over 35 days and significantly reducing relative abdominal fat and heart weight while increasing breast weight. Meat from the HMT-Feed group also exhibited increased yellowness and reduced cooking loss. Histological analysis revealed an improved intestinal morphology, including a greater villus height, reduced crypt depth, and higher villus-to-crypt ratio. Additionally, the HMT-Feed group exhibited a lower cecal pH and higher SCFA levels (notably butyric acid). Deep gut microbiota profiling revealed enriched levels of lactic acid- and butyrate-producing bacteria, indicating improved gut health. The HMT-modified product demonstrates potential applicability as a value-added and sustainable feed additive in the poultry industry.

Anatomical abnormalities of the trachea leading to respiratory distress. Few reports describe the morphological characterization of the dog’s trachea, particularly in the tracheal cartilaginous rings. In this study, twelve tracheas from mixed-breed dog cadavers were obtained to investigate their features across three anatomical tracheal regions: cervical, thoracic inlet, and intrathoracic trachea. The average length of the trachea was 18.92 ± 0.67 cm. Each trachea contained a different number of tracheal rings, ranging from 32 to 41 rings (37.42 ± 0.81 rings). A significant reduction in both outer transverse diameter (OTD) and outer vertical diameter (OVD) was observed from the cervical to the thoracic inlet trachea (P<0.007 and P<0.003, respectively). The intraluminal tracheal cross-section shapes observed at the thoracic inlet trachea were horseshoe (50%), crescent (25%), dorsal focal invagination (16.7%), and oval (8.3%) respectively. Surprisingly, a circular shape could not be observed in the thoracic inlet trachea. Additionally, a single straight band with a parallel border throughout the tracheal cartilaginous ring is a typical configuration in all dog’s trachea (93.3%). Conversely, atypical patterns of cartilaginous rings were less observed (6.7%). This study provides valuable novel insights into the anatomical structure and morphological variability of the tracheal ring in dogs.

Swine wastewater is a nutrient-rich waste stream with considerable potential for cyanobacterial cultivation and resource recovery. However, its impacts on microbial community dynamics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the cultivation of Arthrospira platensis in a medium containing 25% swine wastewater and 75% Zarrouk medium (SWW₂₅) using a flat-panel photobioreactor. A. platensis achieved a biomass concentration of 1.58 ± 0.02 g/L, a biomass productivity of 0.11 ± 0.01 g/L/d, and a specific growth rate of 0.26 ± 0.01 d⁻¹. Simultaneously, the system removed 98.5% of ammonium nitrogen and 80% of orthophosphate. Metagenomic analysis indicated changes in bacterial community composition during A. platensis cultivation. Microbial community analysis revealed shifts in relative abundance after cultivation, likely associated with changes in community composition following Arthrospira biomass enrichment, while Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Synergistota remained among the dominant phyla. In addition, ARG profiling indicated a decline in ARG diversity and read counts during cultivation, whereas tet(X) remained the only detectable ARG after A. platensis cultivation. Collectively, these findings suggest that A. platensis cultivation under non-axenic conditions was associated with biomass production, nutrient removal, and changes in microbial community composition and ARG profiles in swine wastewater.