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This study aimed to investigate the infection status, worm development, and phylogenetic characteristics of the intestinal trematode, Stellantchasmus falcatus. The metacercariae of S. falcatus were detected only in the half-beak (Dermogenus pusillus) out of the 4 fish species examined. Their prevalence was 90.0%, and the intensity of infection was 919 metacercariae on average. Worms were recovered from 33 (97.1%) of 34 chicks that were experimentally infected with 200 S. falcatus metacercariae each, and the average recovery rate was 43.0%. The body size and inner organs of S. falcatus quickly increased in the experimental chicks over days 1-2 post-infection (PI). In addition, ITS2 sequence data of this parasite were analyzed to examine the phylogenetic relationships with other trematodes using the UPGMA method. The results indicated that the ITS2 sequence data recorded from trematodes in the family Heterophyidae appeared to be monophyletic. This study concluded that D. pusillus serves as a compatible second intermediate host of S. falcatus in Thailand and that S. falcatus can develop rapidly in the experimental chicks. Data collected from this study can help to close the gap in knowledge regarding the epidemiology, biology, and phylogenetic characteristics of S. falcatus in Thailand.

Over 400 bacterial strains, isolated from leaf surfaces of Curcuma alismatifolia Gagnep. and hot springs in the Chiang Mai province of northern Thailand, were screened in vitro for antagonistic activity against Colletotrichum musae, an anthracnose fungus. Three isolates provided greater than 75% growth inhibition of the fungus in vitro and were identified as Bacillus licheniformis, B. amyloliquefaciens and B. subtilis. Using in planta tests, B. amyloliquefaciens and B. subtilis were shown to efficiently colonize the curcuma bracts, provide a statistically significant growth suppression of C. musae over that of B. licheniformis, and all three isolates could provide 100% inhibition of conidial fungal germination. When B. licheniformis was co-inoculated in combination with either of the other two bacteria, the ability of B. amyloliquefaciens and B. subtilis to suppress the fungal disease was dramatically reduced. Both B. amyloliquefaciens and B. subtilis were found to contain an isoform of iturin A with antifungal activity against C. musae. As a preventative measure to control the spread of C. musae and reduce the severity of fungal infections, B. amyloliquefaciens could be used to inoculate curcuma flowers cost effectively and reduce the need for the toxic synthetic fungicides currently in use.