Biological interaction between soil fungi and Toxocara canis eggs.

Fungi from the soil of public areas in La Plata, Argentina were isolated and evaluated for their biological interaction with Toxocara canis eggs in vitro. We isolated and identified two fungal species: Fusarium pallidoroseum and Mucor hiemalis. Each species was co-cultured with T. canis eggs in sterile distilled water. The samples were observed by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at days 4, 7 and 14 post-inoculation. Under the conditions of our experiments, F. pallidoroseum exhibited a high ovicidal activity on T. canis eggs, whereas M. hiemalis exhibited no such effects.