title: A suitable model for the utilization of Duddingtonia flagrans fungus in small-flock-size sheep farms.
abstract: Effective alternatives to anthelmintic treatment of nematode parasite infections of sheep are required because of the high prevalence of drug resistance. Within this context, the nematode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans has become a valuable component of various integrated control strategies. Toward this objective, a small quantity of lyophilized D. flagrans chlamydospores (10(6) spores per animal) was administered to sheep in a one-year plot study. Animals grazing on native pasture were divided into two homogeneous groups and were kept in 1-ha paddocks in the southern region of Brazil. The oral administration of chlamydospores led to a significant reduction (p<0.05) in the number of nematode eggs per gram of feces and in the larval availability on herbage (difference of 37.6%) in comparison to the control group. Control animals needed to be dewormed three times during the experiment, whereas the fungus-treated animals maintained a low parasite load, independent of seasonal variation. Although D. flagrans cannot serve as a panacea for nematode parasite control of livestock, it represents a significant advance toward rationalizing the use of endoparasitic drugs in small animals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisas Micológicas, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. santurio@smail.ufsm.br
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Santurio
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zanette
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Fanfa
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Farret
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ragagnin
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hecktheuer
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000469:parasitology; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000502:physiology