Evaluation of the effectiveness of Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium in the biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes in female bovines bred in the semiarid region

Abstract

Brazil has a herd of 212 million cattle and 171 million hectares of pastures that produce approximately 96 % of Brazilian beef. The Brazilian production system enables animal infection by endoparasites, which are considered one of the main obstacles for the development of this industry and are responsible for considerable economic losses. The control of parasitic diseases is performed via the administration of antiparasitic drugs, but they leave residues of the products in the treated animal, affect non-target organisms and select resistant strains of the parasites. The species D. flagrans and M. thaumasium are promising and sustainable alternatives for controlling gastrointestinal helminths of ruminants and other herbivores. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of isolates of these species, formulated in a sodium alginate matrix and administered twice a week, to reduce the number of environmental infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes that affect prepubescent zebu females. The treated animals presented fewer eggs and a lower number of infective larvae per gram of faeces (p < 0.05). The pastures occupied by treated animals showed a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) of the number of L3 and, furthermore, the genera Cooperia sp., Haemonchus sp., and Oesophagostomum sp. were the most prevalent. The average weight of the animals did not differ statistically (p > 0.05) among the treated and control groups. The use of sodium alginate pellets as vehicle for delivery of the fungus mycelia D. flagrans (isolate AC001) and M. thaumasium (isolate NF34A) proved effective in controlling trichostrongylids in prepubescent cows bred in the semi-arid region, with an effective reduction in the number of infective larvae in the pastures.

Control of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes using the combination of Duddingtonia flagrans and Levamisole Hydrochloride 5%

“…They observed that statistical differences in EPG counts (p < 0.05) only started at the 60 th day of the experiment, with a fecal egg count reduction on day 180 that was similar to what was seen in the present study (76% in adults and 83% in juveniles). Other studies have also demonstrated the ability of D. flagrans to survive after passage through the gastrointestinal tract of animals, making it a strong ally in combating free-living stages of the gastrointestinal nematodes (WALLER, 2006;PAZ-SILVA et al, 2011;SAGÜÉS et al, 2011;FITZ-ARANDA et al, 2015;ARIAS et al, 2013;SILVA et al, 2014). Strategic use of chemical treatment aided in this, by enabling accelerated reduction of the parasite load in the animals.…”

In vitro predatory activity of nematophagous fungi isolated from water buffalo feces and from soil in the Mexican southeastern

“…Thus, strategies for the control of nematodes are being explored, including the use of natural nematode antagonists, i.e., nematophagous fungi. These microorganisms are being considered as suitable tools for the control and prevention of nematodias of cattle and sheep (SILVA et al, 2014). Nematophagous fungi are microorganisms from soil that can form trapping devices from their mycelia to catch, destroy and feed of nematodes in nature (LIU et al, 2009).…”

Predatory activity of Butlerius nematodes and nematophagous fungi against Haemonchus contortus infective larvae

“…Once these spores are expelled to the soil through the animal deposition's, they germinate in situ and develop trapping devices that capture nematode larvae recently hatched from nematode eggs and eventually feed on them (MENDOZA-de-GIVES & TORRES-ACOSTA, 2012). Recent studies have demonstrated that the use of sodium alginate pellets as a vehicle for D. flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium (Helotiales, Orbiliaceae) can be considered a suitable tool for the control of cattle parasites (SILVA et al, 2014). Arthrobotrys species (Helotiales, Orbiliaceae) are probably the most extensively studied nematophagous fungi worldwide.…”