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This work was performed to determine the predatory capacity in vitro of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (isolate AC001) on cyathostomin infective larvae of horse (L(3)). The experimental assay was carried out on plates with 2% water-agar (2% WA). In the treated group, each plate contained 1.000 L(3) and 1.000 conidia of the fungus. The control group without fungus only contained 1.000 L(3) in the plates. Ten random fields (4 mm diameter) were examined per plate of treated and control groups, every 24 h for seven days under an optical microscope (10x and 40x objective lens) for non-predated L(3) counts. After 7 days, the non-predated L(3) were recovered from the Petri dishes using the Baermann method. The interaction there was a significant reduction (p0.01) of 93.64% in the cyathostomin L(3) recovered. The results showed that the D. flagrans is a potential candidate to the biological control of horse cyathostomin L(3).

Ancylostoma sp is a potentially zoonotic geohelminth.This study aimed to evaluate in vitro the action of crude enzyme extract of Pochonia chlamydosporia (VC4) on eggs of Ancylostoma sp in 2% water-agar and in fecal cultures.The percentage reduction in Ancylostoma sp egg eclosion was 76.8% in Petri dishes of the treated group compared to the control group.The crude enzyme extract of Pochonia chlamydosporia was effective at reducing Ancylostoma sp egg eclosion and can be used as biological control of this nematode.

INTRODUÇÃO: Toxocara canis é um ascarídeo parasita do intestino delgado de cães, causador da larva migrans visceral em seres humanos. MÉTODOS: Com o objetivo de demonstrar a eficácia do fungo Pochonia chlamydosporia sobre ovos de Toxocara canis em condições laboratoriais, foi montado ensaio experimental em placas de Petri com ágar-água 2%. RESULTADOS: Houve atividade ovicida de 43,8% (p

Strongyloides stercoralis is a nematode that infects much of the population worldwide.This study aimed to compare the ability of predatory nematophagous fungi Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001), Monacrosporium thaumasium (NF34) and Arthrobotrys robusta (I-31) on infective larvae (L₃) of Strongyloides stercoralis in laboratory conditions on 2% water-agar.At the end of the experiment, the percentage reductions in Strongyloides stercoralis L3 were 83.7% (AC001), 75.5% (NF34) and 73.2% (I-31).The nematophagous fungi were able to capture and destroy the L3 in vitro and may be used as biological controls of Strongyloides stercoralis.

Nematophagous fungi are potential biological control agents of helminths. The in vitro ovicidal effect of four isolates of the nematophagous fungi Pochonia chlamydosporia (VC1 and VC4), Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001) and Monacrosporium thaumasium (NF34) was evaluated on egg capsules of Dipylidium caninum, a cestode parasite of dogs, cats and humans. One thousand egg capsules of D. caninum were plated on 2% water-agar with the grown isolates and control without fungus. The ovicidal activity of these fungi was evaluated 5, 10 and 15 days after incubation. Only P. chlamydosporia showed ovicidal activity (p < 0.05) on D. caninum egg capsules, of 19.6% (VC1) and 20% (VC4) on the 5th day; 44.2% (VC1) and 31.5% (VC4) on the 10th day; and 49.2% (VC1) and 41.9% (VC4) on the 15th day. D. flagrans and M. thaumasium caused no morphological damage to egg capsules. The results demonstrated that P. chlamydosporia was in vitro effective against capsules and eggs of D. caninum, and can be considered as a potential biological control agent for this helminth.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of formulations of sodium alginate matrix (pellets) of the nematode predatory fungi, Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001 isolate) and Arthrobotrys robusta (I-31 isolate), in the biological control of sheep gastrointestinal nematode infections. Thirty young Bergamacia ewes were allocated into three groups: In group 1 (control), the animals received 2 g/10 kg of live weight (l.w.) of pellets without fungus; in group 2, each animal received 2 g/10 kg of l.w. of pellets of D. flagrans (0.2 g of fungus/10 kg l.w.); and in group 3, each animal received 2 g/10 kg of l.w. of pellets of A. robusta (0.2 g of fungus/10 kg l.w.). The animals of each group were kept separately under rotational grazing. Pellets, with or without fungi, were mixed with 1 kg animal food and administered twice a week for 6 months. There was no significant difference in mean live weight and packed cell volume among groups (P > 0.05). Mean nematode fecal egg counts (FEC) did not significantly differ between the control and the remaining groups, except in one or two collections, when FEC was higher in the control group than in group 2 and group 3, respectively. The group that received A. robusta pellets needed less salvage anthelmintic treatments. Haemonchus contortus was the predominant species recovered from tracer lambs. The nematophagous fungi, D. flagrans and A. robusta, did not provide satisfactory results in the prophylaxis of parasitic gastroenteritis in sheep, under the conditions of the present study.

The predatory capacity of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia (isolate VC4) embedded in sodium alginate pellets after passage through the gastrointestinal tract of horses was assessed in vitro against Oxyuris equi eggs. Twelve previously dewormed crossbred mares, average weight of 362.5 kg (±21) were used in the experiment. Each animal of the treated group received an oral dose (100 g) of sodium alginate pellets containing P. chlamydosporia mycelial mass. The control group received pellets without fungus. Faecal samples from fungus-treated and control groups were collected at intervals of 8, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h after pellet administration and placed in Petri dishes containing 2% water-agar. One thousand eggs of O. equi were plated in Petri dishes of both treated and control groups, with six replicates, and incubated in oven, 25 °C, in the dark, for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, one hundred eggs were removed from each Petri dish and classified according to the following parameters: type 1, physiological and biochemical effect without morphological damage to eggshell, with hyphae adhered to the shell; type 2, lytic effect with morphological change in the eggshell and embryo without hyphal penetration, and type 3, lytic effect with morphological change in the eggshell and embryo, with hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization. Chlamydospore production was observed in Petri dishes of the treated group. The isolate VC4 remained viable after passing through the gastrointestinal tract of horses and maintained the ovicidal activity against O. equi eggs when compared with the control group (p < 0.01) after each collection interval: 29.1% (8 h), 28.2% (12 h), 31.1% (24 h), 27.4% (36 h), 30.9% (48 h) and 28.4% (72 h). The results suggest that P. chlamydosporia could be used as an effective biological control agent of O. equi eggs in natural conditions.

Toxocara canis is an ascarid parasite of the small intestine of dogs that causes visceral larva migrans in humans.With the aim of demonstrating the effectiveness of the fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia on Toxocara canis eggs under laboratory conditions, a trial was set up in Petri dishes with 2% agar-water.There was ovicidal activity of 43.8% (p0.01) in the treated group in relation to the control group over the periods studied.The results from the present study suggest that Pochonia chlamydosporia can potentially be used as an alternative biological control for embryonated Toxocara canis eggs.

The action of four fungal isolates of the speciesDuddingtonia flagrans(AC001),Monacrosporium thaumasium(NF34a) andPochonia chlamydosporia(VC1 and VC4) on eggs ofOxyuris equiandAustroxyuris finlaysoniwas evaluated in two assays (A and B). Eggs ofO. equi(Test A) andA. finlaysoni(Test B) were plated on Petri dishes with 2% water-agar with grown fungal isolates and control without fungus. After 5, 10 and 15 days, 100 eggs were collected and classified according to the following parameters: type 1 effect, physiological and biochemical effect without morphological damage to the eggshell; type 2 effect, lytic effect with morphological alteration of the eggshell and embryo; and type 3 effect, lytic effect with morphological alteration of the eggshell and embryo, hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization.Pochonia chlamydosporiaisolates VC1 and VC4 showed ovicidal activity for type 1, 2 and 3 effects on eggs ofO. equiand eggs ofA. finlaysoni.In vitroassays A and B showed thatP. chlamydosporiahad a negative influence on eggs ofO. equiandA. finlaysoniand can be considered as a potential biological control agent of nematodes.

Parasitic nematodes Ancylostoma caninum and Ancylostoma braziliense affect dogs and cats and have great medical and veterinary importance for their high prevalence, zoonotic potential, cosmopolitan characteristic and soil contamination by eggs and larvae. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the nematophagous fungus Monacrosporium thaumasium (isolate NF34a) in the biological control of dog hookworm, 12 adult animals, average weight between 7 and 19 kg, were separated into groups and kept in 2 different kennels: control group (without fungus) and a group treated with 0.5 g of fungal mycelium per kilogram of body weight. The animals were treated and feces samples were collected for egg count (eggs per gram of feces—EPG) and coprocultures during six months, twice a week. Every 15 days soil samples were collected from each group and examined for infective larvae (L3) in the period between March and September 2008. From April onwards, EPG and coproculture recordings in the treated group were lower than the control group (p < 0.05). Linear regression coefficients for the control group were −30.79 and −160.79 for coproculture and EPG means, respectively. The linear regression coefficients for the treated group were −5.64 and −67.64 for EPG and coproculture means, respectively. Larvae were detected in the soil throughout the experimental period. From June to the end of the experiment (September), means of L3 recovered from the kennel soil of the control group were higher than the means of the kennel soil of the treated group (p > 0.05). The regression coefficient was higher for the treated group (−5.36) than the control group (−1.14), confirming the action of M. thaumasium against larvae in the soil. M. thaumasium can be therefore considered as an alternative environmental control of Ancylostoma spp. in dogs.

This work evaluated the ovicidal effect of the nematophagous fungi Monacrosporium sinense (SF53), Monacrosporium thaumasium (NF34) and Pochonia chlamydosporia (VC1) on Taenia taeniaeformis eggs in laboratory conditions. T. taeniaeformis eggs were plated on 2% water-agar with the grown isolates and control without fungus and examined at seven and fourteen days post-inoculation. At the end of the experiment, P. chlamydosporia showed ovicidal activity (P < 0.01) on T. taeniaeformis eggs unlike the other two species, mainly for internal egg colonization with percentage results of 32.2–54.0% at 7th and 14th day, respectively. The other fungi only showed lytic effect without morphological damage to eggshell. Results demonstrated that P. chlamydosporia was in vitro effective against Taenia taeniaeformis eggs unlike the other fungi. In this way, the use of P. chlamydosporia is suggested as a potential biological control agent for eggs of this cestode.

Toxocara (Neoascaris) vitulorum is a gastrointestinal nematode parasite of young ruminants, responsible for high mortality rates in parasitized cattle and buffalo calves. The objective of this work was to compare the predatory capacity under laboratory conditions of four fungal isolates of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia (VC1, VC4, VC5 and VC12) on T. vitulorum eggs in 2% water-agar (2% WA). T. vitulorum eggs were plated on 2% WA Petri dishes which contained cultured fungal isolates and control plates without fungi. After 10 and 15 days one hundred eggs were removed and classified according to the following parameters: type 1, biochemical and physiological effect without morphological damage to the eggshell, type 2, lytic effect with morphological alteration of the eggshell and embryo and type 3, lytic effect with morphological alteration of eggshell and embryo in addition to hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization. The fungal isolates were effective in the destruction of T. vitulorum eggs presenting the type 3 effect at 10 and 15 days after contact with the fungus. No nematophagous fungi were observed in the control group during the experiment. There was no variation in the predatory capacity of the fungal isolates (P > 0.01) at the intervals of 10 and 15 days. These results indicate that P. chlamydosporia (VC1, VC4, VC5 and VC12) negatively influenced the development of T. vitulorum eggs and can be considered a potential candidate for the biological control of nematodes.

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a nematode that parasitizes domestic dogs and wild canids. We compared the predatory capacity of isolates from the predatory fungi Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001), Monacrosporium thaumasium (NF34), Monacrosporium sinense (SF53) and Arthrobotrys robusta (I31) on first-stage larvae (L1) of A. vasorum under laboratory conditions. L1A. vasorum were plated on 2% water-agar (WA) Petri dishes marked into 4 mm diameter fields with the four grown isolates and a control without fungus. Plates of treated groups contained each 1000 L1A. vasorum and 1000 conidia of the fungal isolates AC001, NF34, SF53 and I31 on 2% WA. Plates of the control group (without fungus) contained only 1000 L1A. vasorum on 2% WA. Ten random fields (4 mm diameter) were examined per plate of treated and control groups, every 24 h for 7 days. Nematophagous fungi were not observed in the control group during the experiment. There was no variation in the predatory capacity among the tested fungal isolates (P>0.05) during the 7 days of the experiment. There was a significant reduction (P A. vasorum L1 recovered from treatments with isolates AC001, NF34, SF53 and I31, respectively, compared to the control without fungi. In this study, the four isolates of predatory fungi were efficient in the in vitro capture and destruction of A. vasorum L1, confirming previous work on the efficiency of nematophagous fungi in the control of nematode parasites of dogs and as a possible alternative method of biological control.

Com o objetivo de demonstrar a eficácia do fungo Paecilomyces lilacinus sobre ovos de Taenia saginata em condições laboratoriais, foi montado ensaio em placas de Petri com agar - água 2%. Houve atividade ovicida (p

a Pesquisador do CNPq. IN VITRO EVALUATION OF THE ACTION OF THE NEMATOPHAGOUS FUNGI Duddingtonia flagrans, Monacrosporium thaumasium AND Pochonia chlamydosporia ON Eurytrema coelomaticum EGGS The present study assessed in vitro action of nematophagous fungi species Duddingtonia flagrans (AC 001), Monacrosporium thaumasium (NF 34) and Pochonia chlamydosporia (VC1 and VC4) on eggs of Eurytrema coelomaticum. Eggs were placed on Petri dishes with fungus isolate grown in water- agar 2% and in the control (no fungus). After seven, 10 and 14 days, the eggs were removed and classified according to the following parameters: type 1, lytic effect without morphological damage to eggshell; type 2, lytic effect with morphological alteration of embryo and eggshell; and type 3, lytic effect with morphological alteration of embryo and eggshell, besides hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization. The isolate AC001 and NF34 had not demonstrated percentages to type 3 effects, however isolated VC1 presented results percentages for the type 3 effect that it determines the ovicida activity of one fungus: 27.2% to the seven days, 23.1% to the 10 days and 25.0% to the 14 days. The isolated VC4 presented: 15.0% to the seven days, 25.4% to the 10 days and, 21.8% to the 14 days. P. chlamydosporia is a promising fungus can be used in the biological control of E. coelomaticum.

The viability of a fungal formulation using the nematode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans was assessed for the biological control of horse cyathostomin. Two groups (fungus-treated and control without fungus treatment), consisting of eight crossbred mares (3–18 years of age) were fed on Cynodon sp. pasture naturally infected with equine cyathostome larvae. Each animal of the treated group received oral doses of sodium alginate mycelial pellets (1 g/(10 kg live weight week)), during 6 months. Significant reduction (p < 0.01) in the number of eggs per gram of feces and coprocultures was found for animals of the fungus-treated group compared with the control group. There was difference (p < 0.01) of 78.5% reduction in herbage samples collected up to (0–20 cm) between the fungus-treated group and the control group, during the experimental period (May–October). Difference of 82.5% (p < 0.01) was found between the fungus-treated group and the control group in the sampling distance (20–40 cm) from fecal pats. During the last 3 months of the experimental period (August, September and October), fungus-treated mares had significant weight gain (p < 0.01) compared with the control group, an increment of 38 kg. The treatment with sodium alginate pellets containing the nematode-trapping fungus D. flagrans reduced cyathostomin in tropical southeastern Brazil and could be an effective tool for biological control of this parasitic nematode in horses.

With the aim of demonstrating the effectiveness of the fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus on Taenia saginata eggs under laboratory conditions, a trial was set up in Petri dishes with water-agar 2%. There was ovicidal activity (p0.05) in relation to the control group on the tenth day of interaction and an internal colonization rate of 25.5% in the eggs.

The in vitro effect of four isolates of the nematophagous fungi Duddingtonia flagrans (AC 001), Monacrosporium sinense (SF 53), and Pochonia chlamydosporia (VC 1 and VC 4) on eggs of Ascaris suum was evaluated. One hundred thousand A. suum eggs were plated on 2% water–agar with the grown isolates and control without fungus. After 7, 14, and 21 days, 100 eggs were removed and classified according to the following parameters: type 1, lytic effect without morphological damage to eggshell; type 2, lytic effect with morphological alteration of embryo and eggshell; and type 3, lytic effect with morphological alteration of embryo and eggshell, besides hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization. P. chlamydosporia showed ovicidal activity (p < 0.01), mainly of the type 3 effect, on A. suum eggs in the studied intervals of 13.3% (isolate VC 1) and 17.3% (isolate VC 4), 13.9% (VC 1) and 17.7% (VC 4), and 19% (VC 1) and 20% (VC4), respectively, at 7, 14, and 21 days. The other fungi showed no type 3 effect. P. chlamydosporia is a potential biological control agent of A. suum eggs.

Observou-se a ação in vitro dos fungos nematófagos Duddingtonia flagrans, Monacrosporium thaumasium e Verticillium chlamydosporium sobre ovos de Ascaris lumbricoides. Após sete, dez e quatorze dias de interação, o fungo promissor a ser utilizado no controle biológico de Asaris lumbricoides foi o Verticillium chlamydosporium (26-30%). Os outros fungos não foram satisfatórios. The in vitro action of the nematophagous fungi Duddingtonia flagrans, Monacrosporium thaumasium and Verticillium chlamydosporium on eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides was observed. After 7, 10 and 14 days of interaction, the fungus showing most promise for use in biologically control over Ascaris lumbricoides was Verticillium chlamydosporium (26-30%). The other fungi did not present satisfactory results.

Platynosomum fastosum é um parasito de felinos, entre os quais os gatos domésticos, sobretudo os originados de locais onde o clima é tropical e subtropical. Este é o parasito hepático mais comum de gatos domésticos e se localiza geralmente nas vias biliares e vesícula biliar, mas também pode ser encontrado no intestino delgado e pâncreas. A infecção se dá por meio da ingestão de lagartixa contendo as metacercárias que, nas vias biliares de gatos domésticos, causam uma colangite. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi relatar a ocorrência de P. fastosum, verificada por meio de necropsia de um gato doméstico, assintomático, com histórico de morte súbita, recebido no setor de Patologia Animal do Hospital Veterinário Ricardo Alexandre Hippler, Espírito Santo, Brasil. No exame macroscópico, foram observados exemplares adultos de P. fastosum no interior dos ductos biliares que se encontravam visivelmente dilatados. No exame histopatológico, foram confirmadas dilatação, presença de parasitos e proliferações papilares para a luz dos ductos, seguindo-se a classificação como colangiohepatite associada à infecção por P. fastosum. Este é o primeiro relato da ocorrência de P. fastosum em um gato doméstico no Espírito Santo.

The aim of this study was to optimize the dextranase production by fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia (VC4) and evaluate its activity in dextran reduction in sugarcane juice. The effects, over the P. chlamydosporia dextranase production, of different components from the culture medium were analyzed by Plackett-Burman design and central composite design. The response surface was utilized to determine the levels that, among the variables that influence dextranase production, provide higher production of these enzymes. The enzymatic effect on the removal of dextran present in sugarcane juice was also evaluated. It was observed that only NaNO3 and pH showed significant effect (p

Sodium alginate pellets of the nematode predatory fungi Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium were evaluated in the biological control of bovine gastrointestinal nematodiasis. Three groups (A–C) of ten six month old male Nelore bulls were kept in paddocks of Brachiaria decumbens for 12 months. Each animal of group A received 1g/10kg of body weight (b.w.) of pellets of D. flagrans (0.2g of fungus/10kg b.w.) and of group B, 1g/10kg of b.w. of pellets of M. thaumasium (0.2g of fungus/10kg b.w.), twice a week, for 12 months. Animals of the group control received no fungus. The monthly averages of egg count per gram of feces of the animals of groups A and B were 56.67% and 47.8% smaller, than the animals of group C (p

Background Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium are promising fungus species in veterinary biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes because of their production capacity of fungal structures (conidia and/or chlamydospores), growth efficiency in laboratory solid media and especially their predatory capacity. However, their large-scale production remains a challenge. This work aimed at evaluating the mycelial mass production of D. flagrans (AC001 and CG722) and M. thaumasium (NF34A) nematophagous fungi under different culture conditions. Results The results did not present significant differences (p > 0.05) in mycelia mass production between the isolates cultured under pH 4.0. Furthermore, after 168 hrs., the isolate CG722 presented a lower production of mycelial mass in medium CM (corn meal) (p < 0.05). Conclusion We therefore concluded the use of culture media SD (soy dextrose) and CG (corn grits) at pH values between 6.0 and 7.0 is suitable for high mycelial mass production of D. flagrans and M. thaumasium.