title: Trichoderma virens as a biocontrol of Toxocara canis: In vivo evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microorganisms have been widely studied as biological control agents of parasites of medical and veterinary importance. Coprophagous arthropods, bacteria and fungi are among the different organisms evaluated as potential biological control agents. Nematophagous fungi capture and digest the free forms of nematodes in the soil. Due to its zoonotic potential, Toxocara canis have been brought to the attention of researchers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine whether the administration of embryonated T. canis eggs exposed to the nematophagous fungus Trichoderma virens reduces parasite infection in experimental animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Embryonated T. canis eggs were exposed to T. virens mycelium for 15 days at 25°C. Subsequently, 100 fungus-exposed eggs were orally administered to 20 Swiss mice. As a positive control, another 20 mice received 100 embryonated eggs that were not exposed to the fungus. After 48h, the animals were killed, and heart, lungs and liver were harvested for the recovery of larvae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The organs of the animals that received embryonated T. canis eggs exposed to the fungus showed a lower mean larval recovery when compared with the animals that received embryonated eggs without fungus exposure (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The exposure of T. canis eggs to T. virens reduces the experimental infection, demonstrating the potential of this nematophagous fungus as a biocontrol agent.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Souza Maia Filho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anelise Oliveira
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: da Silva Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Beatriz Maroneze
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Persici
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Souza Silveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline Quintana
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Rurais, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pötter
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Rurais, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sônia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Avila Botton
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: danielabrayer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniela Isabel
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Brayer Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D051379:Mice; D010063:Ovum / Q000382:microbiology; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014242:Trichoderma
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents
keywords: Biological control; Control biológico; Experimental animal model; Helminths; Helmintos; Hongos nematófagos; Modelo experimental animal; Nematophagous fungi