Gelatin treats containing filamentous fungi to promote sustainable control of helminths among pets and zoo animals

Paz-Silvạ, A.; Salmo, Rami; Viña, Cándido; Palomero, A. M.; Hernández, José Ángel; Sánchez-Andrade, R.; Cazapal-Monteiro, C.; Arias, M.

doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2023.105184

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…oocysts reduced the environmental contamination by this parasite, with significant OPG reduction efficacies up to 92%, after 60 days of fungal feeding. These results demonstrated that the predacious activity developed by this type of fungi is a gradual process, as observed in other in vivo trials performed with M. circinelloides in dogs 26 , 36 , sheep 29 , baboons 36 and wapitis 35 , which reported significant reductions in helminth egg shedding after a minimum of one month of routine fungal administrations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Predatory fungi are a promising solution for the integrated parasite management of animals kept in captivity in farms, zoos, and private collections, serving as a complement to the conventional antiparasitic drug treatments 25 , 36 , 43 . However, studies on this topic traditionally focus on horses and ruminants, and to our knowledge no large-scale field trials were previously performed aiming to assess the efficacy of predatory fungi in the reduction of avian GI parasitism.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the majority of studies have addressed the use of these fungi to control ruminants [27][28][29] and horses [30][31][32] GI parasites, research on this topic has been recently extended to other animal species, namely dogs, birds, and captive wild animals 24,[33][34][35][36][37] . Regarding bird parasite control, it has been revealed that P. chlamydosporia, D. flagrans, Arthrobotrys spp.…”

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Assessing the efficacy of the ovicidal fungus Mucor circinelloides in reducing coccidia parasitism in peacocks

Lozano,

Almeida,

Vicente

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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The biological control of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites using predatory fungi has been recently proposed as an accurate and sustainable approach in birds. The current study aimed to assess for the first time the efficacy of using the native ovicidal fungus Mucor circinelloides (FMV-FR1) in reducing coccidia parasitism in peacocks. For this purpose, an in vivo trial was designed in the resident peacock collection (n = 58 birds) of the São Jorge Castle, at Lisbon, Portugal. These animals presented an initial severe infection by coccidia of the genus Eimeria (20106 ± 8034 oocysts per gram of feces, OPG), and thus received commercial feed enriched with a M. circinelloides suspension (1.01 × 108 spores/kg feed), thrice-weekly. Fresh feces were collected every 15 days to calculate the coccidia shedding, using the Mini-FLOTAC technique. The same bird flock served simultaneously as control (t0 days) and test groups (t15–t90 days). The average Eimeria sp. shedding in peacocks decreased up to 92% following fungal administrations, with significant reduction efficacies of 78% (p = 0.004) and 92% (p = 0.012) after 45 and 60 days, respectively. Results from this study suggest that the administration of M. circinelloides spores to birds is an accurate solution to reduce their coccidia parasitism.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the efficacy of the ovicidal fungus Mucor circinelloides in reducing coccidia parasitism in peacocks

Lozano,

Almeida,

Vicente

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Analyzing the safety of the parasiticide fungus Mucor circinelloides : first insights on its virulence profile and interactions with the avian gut microbial community

Lozano,

Cunha,

Almeida

et al. 2024

Microbiol Spectr

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Parasiticide fungi are considered an accurate, sustainable, and safe solution for the biocontrol of animal gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. This research provides an initial characterization of the virulence of the native parasiticide fungus Mucor circinelloides (FMV-FR1) and an assessment of its impact on birds’ gut microbes. The genome of this fungus was sequenced to identify the genes coding for virulence factors. Also, this fungus was checked for the phenotypic expression of proteinase, lecithinase, DNase, gelatinase, hemolysin, and biofilm production. Finally, an in vivo trial was developed based on feeding M. circinelloides spores to laying hens and peacocks three times a week. Bird feces were collected for 3 months, with total genomic DNA being extracted and subjected to long-read 16S and 25S-28S sequencing. Genes coding for an iron permease (FTR1), iron receptors (FOB1 and FOB2), ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) (ARF2 and ARF6), and a GTPase (CDC42) were identified in this M. circinelloides genome. Also, this fungus was positive only for lecithinase activity. The field trial revealed a fecal microbiome dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in laying hens, and Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in peacocks, whereas the fecal mycobiome of both bird species was mainly composed of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes fungi. Bacterial and fungal alpha-diversities did not differ between sampling time points after M. circinelloides administrations ( P = 0.62 and P = 0.15, respectively). Although findings from this research suggest the lack of virulence of this M. circinelloides parasiticide isolate, more complementary in vitro and in vivo research is needed to conclude about the safety of its administration to birds, aiming at controlling their GI parasites. IMPORTANCE A previous study revealed that the native Mucor circinelloides isolate (FMV-FR1) can develop parasiticide activity toward coccidia oocysts, one of the most pathogenic GI parasites in birds. However, ensuring its safety for birds is of utmost importance, namely by studying its virulence profile and potential effect on commensal gut microbes. This initial study revealed that although this M. circinelloides isolate had genes coding for four types of virulence factors—iron permease, iron receptors, ADP-ribosylation factors, and GTPase—and only expressed phenotypically the enzyme lecithinase, the administration of its spores to laying hens and peacocks did not interfere with the abundances and diversities of their gut commensal bacteria and fungi. Although overall results suggest the lack of virulence of this M. circinelloides isolate, more complementary research is needed to conclude about the safety of its administration to birds in the scope of parasite biocontrol programs.

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First insights on the susceptibility of native coccidicidal fungi Mucor circinelloides and Mucor lusitanicus to different avian antiparasitic drugs

Lozano,

Cunha,

de Carvalho

et al. 2024

BMC Vet Res

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Background The combined application of predatory fungi and antiparasitic drugs is a sustainable approach for the integrated control of animal gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. However, literature addressing the possible interference of antiparasitic drugs on the performance of these fungi is still scarce. This research aimed to assess the in vitro susceptibility of six native coccidicidal fungi isolates of the species Mucor circinelloides and one Mucor lusitanicus isolate to several antiparasitic drugs commonly used to treat GI parasites’ infections in birds, namely anthelminthics such as Albendazole, Fenbendazole, Levamisole and Ivermectin, and anticoccidials such as Lasalocid, Amprolium and Toltrazuril (drug concentrations of 0.0078–4 µg/mL), using 96-well microplates filled with RPMI 1640 medium, and also on Sabouraud Agar (SA). Results This research revealed that the exposition of all Mucor isolates to the tested anthelminthic and anticoccidial drug concentrations did not inhibit their growth. Fungal growth was recorded in RPMI medium, after 48 h of drug exposure, as well as on SA medium after exposure to the maximum drug concentration. Conclusions Preliminary findings from this research suggest the potential compatibility of these Mucor isolates with antiparasitic drugs for the integrated control of avian intestinal parasites. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

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Gelatin treats containing filamentous fungi to promote sustainable control of helminths among pets and zoo animals

Cited by 4 publications

References 43 publications

Assessing the efficacy of the ovicidal fungus Mucor circinelloides in reducing coccidia parasitism in peacocks

Assessing the efficacy of the ovicidal fungus Mucor circinelloides in reducing coccidia parasitism in peacocks

Analyzing the safety of the parasiticide fungus Mucor circinelloides : first insights on its virulence profile and interactions with the avian gut microbial community

First insights on the susceptibility of native coccidicidal fungi Mucor circinelloides and Mucor lusitanicus to different avian antiparasitic drugs

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