No abstract

The severe outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS) in Thailand has forced horses to reside full-time inside barns that are covered by a small mesh net to prevent minuscule AHS insect vectors from gaining access. However, housing in the net-covered barn induces stress in horses, which compromises their welfare. Implementing strategic airflow adjustment while retaining the vector-protection characteristics has been proposed to help alleviate this problem. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of strategic ventilation adjustment on blood cortisol levels, heart rate and behaviour in horses in a vector-protected barn. Nine horses underwent two sequential stabling conditions: vector-protected barn housing and housing in a barn in which the air ventilation was explicitly adjusted. Heart rate was higher in the afternoon in horses housed in the barn without ventilation adjustment, whereas no change was observed in the barn with ventilation adjustment. The vector-protected housing increased the horses’ behavioural scores. Blood cortisol level declined over time, and an earlier decrease was detected at 1400h in the barn with ventilation adjustment. Although airflow adjustment did not appear to statistically alter the stress response in horses during housing in the vector-protected barn, an earlier decline in cortisol level alongside an unchanged heart rate in horses during the day may indicate the positive impact of ventilation adjustment within the vector-protected barn. With limited options to reduce stress or discomfort in horses, this strategic protocol could, at least in part, be applied to managing horses’ welfare during the AHS outbreak.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors affecting Anaplasma marginale infection of goat farming in Chonburi province, Thailand. A total of 182 samples were collected from clinical services records from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok. Moreover, the potential risk factors of A. marginale infection, including vectors infestation, barn-types, preventive medicine protocols using vector-control agents and/or deworming programs, and the farming areas were statistically analyzed. The results revealed that 24.7% of goats were positive for A. marginale infection. The Nhong Yai district had the highest infection rate at 34.1% (15/44). The Mueng, Chonburi and Sri Racha district goats were infected at the rate of 27.5% (11/40) and 24.3% (9/37), respectively. The potential significant factors affecting A. marginale infection were vectors infestation (P < 0.01) and preventive medicine protocols using vector-control agents and/or deworming programs (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the vectors infestation increases the chance of A. marginale infection. Conversely, appropriate consistent preventive medical health management by application of vector-control agents and/or deworming programs can reduce the likelihood of infection. Our study could serve as a guideline for prevention planning and for further study of livestock rearing behavior concerning infection of blood parasites in nearby areas