title: An isolate of the nematophagous fungus Monacrosporium thaumasium for the control of cattle trichostrongyles in south-eastern Brazil.
abstract: A mycelial formulation in sodium alginate pellets of the nematophagous fungus Monacrosporium thaumasium (isolate NF34A) was assessed in the biological control of beef cattle trichostrongyles in tropical Brazil. Two groups of ten male Nellore calves aged 6 months, a fungus-treated group and a control group, were fed on a pasture of Brachiaria decumbens naturally infected with larvae of cattle trichostrongyles. The fungus-treated group received doses of sodium alginate mycelial pellets orally (1 g pellets (0.2 g fungus)/10 kg live weight) twice a week for 12 months. At the end of the study there was a signiﬁcant reduction (P< 0.01) in the number of eggs per gram of faeces and coprocultures of the fungus-treated group--47.8% and 50.2%, respectively--in relation to the control group. There was a 47.3% reduction in herbage samples, collected up to 0-20 cm from faecal pats, between the fungus-treated and control groups, and a 58% reduction when the sampling distance was 20-40 cm from faecal pats (P< 0.01). The treatment with sodium alginate pellets containing the nematode-trapping fungus M. thaumasium reduced trichostrongyles in tropical south-eastern Brazil and could be an effective tool for the biological control of this parasitic nematode in beef cattle. However, in such a tropical climate with low rainfall the fungal viability can be reduced.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Parasitology, Av. P.H. Rolphs, Viçosa Campus,Zip code 36570-000,Viçosa, Minas Gerais,Brazil.
authors.forename: R C L
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Parasitology, Av. P.H. Rolphs, Viçosa Campus,Zip code 36570-000,Viçosa, Minas Gerais,Brazil.
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Luns
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Parasitology, Av. P.H. Rolphs, Viçosa Campus,Zip code 36570-000,Viçosa, Minas Gerais,Brazil.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Parasitology, Av. P.H. Rolphs, Viçosa Campus,Zip code 36570-000,Viçosa, Minas Gerais,Brazil.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Parasitology, Av. P.H. Rolphs, Viçosa Campus,Zip code 36570-000,Viçosa, Minas Gerais,Brazil.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.affiliation: University of Viçosa, Central Teaching and Agricultural Development of Florestal, Freeway LMG 818, Km 06, Florestal Campus,Zip code 35690-000,Florestal, Minas Gerais,Brazil.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marcelino
authors.affiliation: University of Viçosa, Central Teaching and Agricultural Development of Florestal, Freeway LMG 818, Km 06, Florestal Campus,Zip code 35690-000,Florestal, Minas Gerais,Brazil.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: University of Viçosa, Central Teaching and Agricultural Development of Florestal, Freeway LMG 818, Km 06, Florestal Campus,Zip code 35690-000,Florestal, Minas Gerais,Brazil.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D001691:Biological Therapy; D001938:Brazil; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009348:Nematoda / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*