Background and Aim: Indigenous beef cattle engaged in bullfighting in Southern Thailand represent a distinctive and valuable breed. Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites, which are recognized as important pathogens, have a negative impact on the overall health and physical performance of these fighting bulls. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of GI parasitic infections and identify factors associated with these infections in a fighting bull population in Southern Thailand. Materials and Methods: Fecal samples (n = 4,244) from fighting bulls were submitted to the Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre of the Teaching Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya. We examined the samples using simple flotation and centrifugal sedimentation methods. Individual animal profiles and demographic data were collected. Results: The overall prevalence of GI parasitic infections was 93.2%. Nine GI parasites were identified as Paramphistome spp. [PP]. being the most prevalent (93.2%), and the highest annual prevalence occurred in 2019 (97.9%). The infection rates of various parasite species were significantly related to the years of study, geographic area, season, and age group (p < 0.05). The prevalence of parasitic infection was higher on the west coast (98.6%) than on the east coast (98.0%). PP, Eurytrema spp., Strongyles spp., and Buxtonella spp. infections differed significantly among the seven provinces of Southern Thailand (p < 0.05). The prevalence of GI parasitic infections was higher during the rainy season (98.5%) than during the summer (97.7%). Bulls aged 7.0–7.9 years and 8.0–8.9 years had the highest parasite infection rate (99.2%) compared with those aged 8.0–8.9. Conclusion: GI parasitic infections continue to be a significant health concern among fighting bulls in Southern Thailand. Regular epidemiological investigations are crucial for developing effective preventive programs and control strategies and providing basic knowledge for bull farmers. Keywords: bullfighting, gastrointestinal parasites, geographical areas, prevalence, Thailand. Keywords: bullfighting, gastrointestinal parasites, geographical areas, prevalence, Thailand.

Background and Aim: The gastrointestinal health of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) is critically dependent on hindgut microbial fermentation, yet host-specific probiotic strains derived from elephants remain poorly characterized. Although lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are widely recognized for their probiotic benefits, systematic evaluation of elephant-origin LAB, including molecular identification and safety assessment, is limited. This study aimed to isolate LAB from the feces of healthy captive Asian elephants and comprehensively evaluate their in vitro probiotic potential, safety profile, and molecular identity to support the development of host-adapted probiotic candidates. Materials and Methods: Fresh fecal samples were collected from 25 clinically healthy captive Asian elephants housed at four elephant camps in Krabi Province, Thailand. LAB were isolated using de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe agar and subjected to preliminary phenotypic and biochemical characterization. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against five pathogenic indicator bacteria using the disk diffusion method. Probiotic functional properties were assessed through acid tolerance (pH 3.0), bile salt tolerance (1%), cell surface hydrophobicity, and autoaggregation assays. Safety evaluation included hemolytic activity and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Molecular identification of selected isolates was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis. Results: A total of 195 LAB isolates were recovered, of which 52 exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested pathogens. Eleven isolates demonstrated superior probiotic attributes, with acid and bile salt survival rates ranging from 74.67%–91.67% and 75.17%–98.15%, respectively. These isolates showed strong antimicrobial activity (inhibition zones 12–15 mm), high cell surface hydrophobicity (74.03%–92.24%), and substantial autoaggregation capacity (70.60%–85.74%). All selected isolates were non-hemolytic and susceptible to clinically relevant antibiotics. Molecular analysis identified seven isolates as Enterococcus faecalis and four as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Among them, isolates I9, I56, and I145 (L. plantarum) exhibited the most consistent and robust probiotic characteristics. Conclusion: This study provides the first molecularly validated and comprehensive in vitro evaluation of probiotic LAB isolated from captive Asian elephants. The identified L. plantarum strains, particularly isolates I9, I56, and I145, demonstrated strong functional and safety profiles, supporting their potential as host-specific probiotics for improving gastrointestinal health and disease management in captive and wild Asian elephants. Keywords: 16S rRNA gene, Asian elephant, gut microbiota, lactic acid bacteria, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, probiotic potential, safety assessment, in vitro evaluation.

Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) may influence microbial and immune-related processes, but evidence concerning palm kernel meal (PKM)-derived MOS-containing products in goats remains limited. The experimental product was a chemically heterogeneous PKM-derived hydrolysate in which M2–M6 oligosaccharides were identified by HPLC–RID; residual sugars and other soluble constituents were also present. Twenty growing male goats received 0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 g hydrolysate/goat/day (n = 5 per treatment) for 90 days. Feed intake, growth, hematological and serum biochemical indices, circulating immune indicators, peripheral blood leukocyte gene expression, and selected ruminal measures were evaluated. Immune and gene-expression outcomes were measured in prefeeding blood collected on Day 90. Ruminal pH and acetate, propionate, and butyrate were measured in a single rumen-fluid sample collected 3 h after feeding on Day 90. Serum IgA showed a positive linear association with supplementation level, whereas IL-1β and IL-6 showed negative associations; these remained significant after false-discovery-rate correction (q = 0.036, 0.012, and 0.012, respectively). Selected immune-related transcripts also differed among treatments, but these endpoint patterns do not establish coordinated immunological regulation or a specific mechanism. Propionate and butyrate showed nominal positive linear associations, whereas the acetate-to-propionate ratio showed a nominal negative association (raw p = 0.028, 0.021, and 0.018, respectively); none remained significant after correction (q = 0.056 for each). Ruminal pH, the sum of the three measured VFA concentrations, feed intake, and growth did not differ detectably. No overt clinical abnormalities requiring veterinary intervention were observed, but the study was not powered to establish safety. These preliminary between-group endpoint associations concern the complete heterogeneous hydrolysate and cannot be attributed specifically to M2–M6 oligosaccharides. Larger, adequately powered studies with pretreatment and repeated measurements are required.

Accurate health assessments are vital for the performance and welfare of fighting bulls. Existing hematological and biochemical reference intervals (RIs) for cattle may not adequately reflect the unique characteristics of fighting bulls due to breed, age, and geographical differences. This study aimed to develop and apply region-specific RIs for hematological and biochemical parameters in fighting bulls from southern Thailand. A retrospective analysis of laboratory records was conducted on 1,460 healthy fighting bulls enrolled in an annual health check program at the Livestock Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, from January 2016 to December 2023. Blood samples were analyzed for hematological and serum chemistry profiles using automated analyzers. Statistical evaluations identified significant geographical, seasonal, and age-related variations. Region-specific RIs were established, revealing slight elevations in red blood cell (RBC) indices, including RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrate (MCHC), as well as serum chemistry parameters such as blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total protein (TP), compared to previously reported values for other cattle breeds. Older bulls exhibited lower RBC indices and leukocyte counts (P<0.05), while western coast bulls showed distinct variations in MCV, leukocyte counts, neutrophils, eosinophils, and ALP compared to eastern counterparts (P<0.05). Seasonal effects included higher MCHC, monocyte counts, and TP during the rainy season, whereas red cell distribution width and neutrophil counts increased significantly during summer (P<0.05). These RIs provide valuable benchmarks for health assessment, disease diagnosis, and physiological monitoring, enhancing the management and welfare of fighting bulls in southern Thailand.