Interactions between the predacious fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora and third-stage larvae of a series of animal-parasitic nematodes.
Interactions between the predacious hyphomycete Arthrobotrys oligospora and third-stage larvae of nine animal-parasitic nematodes were tested in vitro. The trap-inducing capabilities of the ruminant trichostrongylus Cooperia oncophora, C. curticei, Haemonchus contortus and Ostertagia ostertagi and of equine cyathostomes were almost comparable to those of free-living soil nematodes, and significantly higher than those of the porcine Oesophagostomum dentatum and Oe. quadrispinulatum and of the murine Nematospiroides dubius. The trap-forming potential of Dictyocaulus viviparus was poor. All animal-parasitic nematodes were rapidly captured when fungal traps had been pre-induced in high numbers. The possible influence of predacious fungi on animal-parasitic nematode populations under natural conditions in the field is discussed.
Nansen
P
P
Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Grønvold
J
J
Henriksen
S A
SA
Wolstrup
J
J
D000818:Animals; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000502:physiology*; D009348:Nematoda / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors