"Nematophagous fungi used by biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes in livestock and the ways of administration"

SAGÜÉS MARÍA F.; PURSLOW PETER; FERNÁNDEZ ALICIA S; FUSÉ LUIS A; IGLESIAS LUCÍA E; SAUMELL CARLOS A

REVISTA IBEROAMERICANA DE MICOLOGIA

ASOCIACION ESPANOLA MICOLOGIA-AEM

Año: 2011 vol. 28 p. 143 - 147

1130-1406

The control of gastrointestinal nematodes relies at present mostly on anthelmintic treatments using synthetic molecules. This approach, however, has led to the appearance of resistance to some types of anthelmintics which, together with the need of cutting down on the use of chemicals, has fostered the development of other control methods, such as biological control. Biological control is the utilization of living beings that are naturally antagonistic to an unwanted species. Among the natural enemies of nematode parasitic larvae is the microfungus Duddingtonia flagrans. Research has proved the ability of this fungus to reduce the number of nematode larvae in faeces, the ability of its chlamydospores to survive the passage through the gastrointestinal tract of livestock and, moreover, to keep its germinative ability, thus facilitating the development of formulations. The present review mention the nematophagous fungi species used at the moment and deals the different ways of administering nematophagous fungi currently tested.