title: Fungal ovicidal activity on Toxocara canis eggs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Visceral toxocariasis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by Toxocara canis. The prevalence of this parasite in dogs, soil contamination and the resistance of eggs increase human exposure to the disease. Moreover, the difficulties of the control measures justify the need for alternative ones.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro ovicidal activity of fungi isolated from soils from public places in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on Toxocara canis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of soil from ten localities were inoculated onto Petri dishes with 2% water-agar (WA) that contained antibiotics, and incubated at 25°C/21 days. Isolated fungi were tested in vitro for ovicidal activity, with five replicates. One mL of an embryonated Toxocara canis egg suspension (10(3) eggs) was poured over the fungal cultures after 10 days of growth. At intervals of 7, 14 and 21 days, 100 eggs were removed from each plaque and evaluated by optical microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acremonium, Aspergillus, Bipolaris, Fusarium, Gliocladium, Mucor and Trichoderma were isolated from the soil. A significant ovicidal type 3 effect was observed in Trichoderma, Fusarium solani complex and Acremonium. Those isolates from the genus Trichoderma showed their ovicidal effect on the 14th day of fungus-egg interaction. The other fungal genera tested showed a type 2 effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the use of Trichoderma and Fusarium solani complex in biological control of T. canis is promising; however, further studies should be performed.
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Programa de Pós Graduação em Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: fmaia2404@yahoo.com.br.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: De Souza Maia Filho
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: Nunes Vieira
authors: Maria Elisabeth
authors: ME
authors: Aires Berne
authors: Franciele Elisa
authors: FE
authors: Stoll
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Da Silva Nascente
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Pötter
authors: Daniela Isabel
authors: DI
authors: Brayer Pereira
mesh_terms: D000164:Acremonium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D001938:Brazil; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005670:Fusarium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010063:Ovum / Q000382:microbiology*; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents; D012987:Soil
keywords: Biological control; Control biológico; Nematodes; Nematodos; Soil; Suelo; Toxocariasis; Trichoderma spp.