Aim: This study was aimed to compare the efficacy of dietary Cordyceps militaris spent mushroom substrate (CMS) on growth performance, immunity, metabolic profiles, and antioxidant capacity in growing pigs. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two crossbred growing pigs (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire) with an average initial body weight (BW) of 25.78±0.33 kg were allotted into two dietary treatments in six pens (six growing pigs each). Dietary treatments were (i) control and (ii) supplemented group with 2 g/kg CMS. Results: Growing pigs fed with 2 g/kg CMS showed improvements in final BW (p=0.034) and average daily weight gain (p=0.039). Moreover, there were positive changes in immunoglobulin A (p=0.013), immunoglobulin G (p=0.019), total antioxidant capacity (p=0.001), and glutathione peroxidase activity (p=0.003), whereas decreased leukocyte percentage (p=0.002), cholesterol (p=0.023), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (p=0.002) were noted in the CMS supplemented treatment. Average daily feed intake, gain-to-feed ratio, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein were unaffected by the treatments. Conclusion: Supplementation of CMS at 2 g/kg of diet increases growth performance, immunoglobulin secretion, and antioxidant capacity, whereas it lowers leukocyte percentage, cholesterol, and MDA concentrations in growing pigs.

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Full-fat field cricket meal (FCP) is an alternative protein ingredient in livestock production; however, the effects of replacing conventional protein sources with FCP in nursery diets have not been determined. In this study, the effects of the partial replacement of either fish meal or soybean meal with FCP on weaning pigs were evaluated, including the analyses of growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal morphology, immunity, oxidative stress, and fecal microbial counts. A total of 100 crossbred weaning pigs [(Landrace × Large White) × Duroc] were allotted to one of the following five treatments with five replicates (four pigs/pen) and fed for 28 days postweaning. Treatments were 1) a corn-soybean meal (SBM)-based diet with 5% fish meal (Positive control; PC), 2) a corn-SBM-based diet without fish meal (Negative control; NC), 3) field crickets replacing fishmeal on a total Lys basis (FCP1), 4) field crickets replacing fishmeal on a kg/kg basis (FCP2), and 5) field crickets replacing fish meal and soybean meal (FCP3). The piglets on FCP1 had a higher body weight on days 14 and 28, and an increased average daily gain over the experimental period than NC (P < 0.05); FCP2 and FCP3 were similar to the FCP1 treatment. The incidence of diarrhea was lower under an FCP-supplemented diet than under the NC diet throughout the study (P < 0.05). Pigs fed FCP1 and FCP2 had a higher digestibility of crude protein (P = 0.041), and all FCP groups increased crude fat digestibility (P = 0.024). FCP1 and FCP2 also increased jejunal villus height (P = 0.009), whereas the increase in jejunal villus-to-crypt ratios (P = 0.019) was greater in pigs fed the FCP2 diet than those fed the NC diet. Furthermore, FCP2 supplementation increased serum immunoglobulin A levels on days 14 and 28, including reduced serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels (P <0.05). Pigs fed an FCP2 diet had reduced malondialdehyde levels than those fed a PC diet, while pigs fed an FCP2 diet had higher superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels, and more fecal Lactobacillus spp. than those fed an NC diet (P < 0.05). These results support the use of FCP as an alternative protein ingredient with beneficial effects on growth performance, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota. In particular, FCP can be used as a partial substitute for fish meal and soybean meal without detrimental effects on weaning pigs.

There are limited published reports regarding the optimal dosage of spent mushroom. This study investigated the effect of various levels of spent mushroom derived from C. militaris as an alternative growth promoter to an in-feed antibiotic on the growth performance, blood profiles, immunoglobulin, inflammation, and microbial count of weaning pigs. A total of 120 pigs (6.63 ± 0.13 kg initial body weight) were blocked by weight and sex in a randomized complete block design. Each treatment had six replicates of four pigs each. The pigs were allotted into five treatments: (1) positive control (PC) with 150 mg/kg colistin; (2) negative control (NC) without antibiotic inclusion; and (3–5) negative control groups with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g/kg of C. militariss pent mushroom (SM), respectively. Blood samples were collected at day 35 for determination of blood-related lipid metabolism and immunity. Fresh fecal samples were collected to examine microbial counts on day 35 postweaning. The results showed that SM at 1.5 g/kg improved the body weight, average daily weight gain, and average daily feed intake of weaning pigs in the overall period (p < 0.05). Moreover, the highest dosage of SM caused improvements in the concentrations of high-density lipoprotein, and immunoglobulin A, along with suppressions of total cholesterol, interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, and E. coli (p < 0.05). Therefore, the weaned pigs fed a 1.5 g/kg SM diet showed improved growth performance and displayed greater immunoglobulin secretion and lower inflammation, pathogenic population, and cholesterol concentration.

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Salmonella is one of the major causes of foodborne diseases in humans. These bacteria can colonize within the gastrointestinal tracts of both humans and animals, and there have been reports of incidences of Salmonella in horses. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, serotypes, and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates from racehorses and horsemen, as well as to explore the possible transmission between horses and humans. Fecal samples from racehorses (247 samples) and horsemen (33 samples) were collected from horse farms located in 3 provinces of upper Northeastern Thailand between March and August 2019. Salmonella was isolated and identified. Broth microdilution was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the antimicrobial agents for antimicrobial. Salmonella isolates were detected in 4.86% (12/247) of racehorses and 3.03% (1/33) of horsemen. The most commonly found serotypes in the isolates obtained from the racehorses were Abony (25%) and Iganda (16.67%). Only the Tumodi II serotype was found in one horseman. Salmonella isolates collected from the racehorses had been the most resistant to streptomycin (66.67%), while the isolate from a horsemen had been resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, oxytetracycline, and to tetracycline. Although Salmonella transmission between racehorses and horsemen was not found to be obviously present in this study, the appropriate use of antimicrobials and hygienic procedures are still necessary in order to prevent antimicrobial resistance and the transmission of drug-resistant Salmonella between horses and humans.

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Background: A laparoscope manipulator enables the surgeon to perform an advanced surgery by offering the ability to stabilize and control the visual field. However, there are several problems to be solved such as difficulties to control and a long set-up time causing prolonged operating time. The novel laparoscope manipulating robot (KhonKaen-LMR) was introduced to overcome these problems. Methods: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of KhonKaen-LMR in real robot-assisted pelvic surgeries, the study was divided into 2 experiments. The first experiment was performed in live porcine robot-assisted pelvic surgeries and the second was in a robot-assisted human laparoscopic segmental salpingectomy. Results: The first experiment was performed in ten operations in three-month-old female pigs. The horizontal motion of the scope was from -25 degrees to +30 degrees (55 degree span) and the vertical motion of the scope was from 24 degrees to 51 degrees (27 degree span). The median optimal depth of the laparoscope position was 9.5 cm (range 6 -12.5 cm). The median duration of machine set-up was 3 min (range, 2-11 min). The incised wounds showed no accessory tears and were completely healed in 7 days post-operation. The second experiment was scheduled in a 38 year-old woman for robot-assisted segmental salpingectomy. The duration of setting up was 7 min. The total operating time was 22 min. The surgeon and assistants were very impressed on the convenience of the control system. The laparoscope could move directly to the target point without image rotation which was similar to being moved by an assistant. No adverse effects that were related to the range or speed were noticed. A complete recovery was encountered in 7-day follow up. Conclusion: This new laparoscope manipulator was safe and feasible to operate in humans. It seemed to be quick to set-up and easy to control.