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Biological control of horse cyathostomin (Nematoda: Cyathostominae) using the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans in tropical southeastern Brazil.
Abstract: The viability of a fungal formulation using the nematode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans was assessed for the biological control of horse cyathostomin. Two groups (fungus-treated and control without fungus treatment), consisting of eight crossbred mares (3-18 years of age) were fed on Cynodon sp. pasture naturally infected with equine cyathostome larvae. Each animal of the treated group received oral doses of sodium alginate mycelial pellets (1g/(10 kg live weight week)), during 6 months. Significant reduction (p<0.01) in the number of eggs per gram of feces and coprocultures was found for animals of the fungus-treated group compared with the control group. There was difference (p<0.01) of 78.5% reduction in herbage samples collected up to (0-20 cm) between the fungus-treated group and the control group, during the experimental period (May-October). Difference of 82.5% (p<0.01) was found between the fungus-treated group and the control group in the sampling distance (20-40 cm) from fecal pats. During the last 3 months of the experimental period (August, September and October), fungus-treated mares had significant weight gain (p<0.01) compared with the control group, an increment of 38 kg. The treatment with sodium alginate pellets containing the nematode-trapping fungus D. flagrans reduced cyathostomin in tropical southeastern Brazil and could be an effective tool for biological control of this parasitic nematode in horses.
Publication Date: 2009-05-15 PubMed ID: 19497672DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.05.003Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research tested the use of a nematode-trapping fungus called Duddingtonia flagrans in a formula to control horse parasites (cyathostomin) in Brazil, and found that it resulted in a significant decrease in the number of eggs and parasites present in the horses and their surroundings, and led to a notable increase in the horses’ weight.
Objective and Methodology of the Research
- The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the nematophagous (nematode-eating) fungus, Duddingtonia flagrans, in controlling cyathostomin parasites in horses.
- Duddingtonia flagrans is a fungus known for trapping and consuming nematode larvae. The researchers hoped that it could be a potential biological tool to control horse cyathostomin parasites.
- To test this, two groups of eight crossbred mares each, with aged ranging from 3 to 18 years, were established. One group was treated with the fungus while the other served as a control group that didn’t receive fungus treatment. For half a year, the horses in the treated group were fed with sodium alginate mycelial pellets, prepared with Duddingtonia flagrans.
Findings of the Study
- The research found a significant decrease in the number of cyathostomin eggs in the fecal samples of the horses in the fungus-treated group compared to the control group.
- Not only this, but a considerable reduction in the number of these parasites was also noticed in the pastures where the treated horses were kept, compared to the control group.
- During the latter part of the experimental period (the last three months), horses treated with the fungal formula showed a noteworthy weight gain. This directly indicates an improvement in the health status of the horses, as cyathostomins often lead to weight loss and general poor health in horses.
Conclusion and Implications of the Study
- The research concludes that the designed fungal formula proved effective in controlling cyathostomin parasitic count in horses as well as in their surroundings. This could possibly lead to better health, as evidenced by the weight gain observed in the fungus-treated horses.
- Therefore, the nematode-trapping fungus, Duddingtonia flagrans, can be a viable and ecological friendly way of controlling these harmful parasites in horses. This biological control method may prove pivotal in creating a healthier environment for horses, particularly in southeastern Brazil.
Cite This Article
APA
Braga FR, Araújo JV, Silva AR, Araujo JM, Carvalho RO, Tavela AO, Campos AK, Carvalho GR.
(2009).
Biological control of horse cyathostomin (Nematoda: Cyathostominae) using the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans in tropical southeastern Brazil.
Vet Parasitol, 163(4), 335-340.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.05.003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa-MG, Cep: 36570000, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / microbiology
- Animals
- Brazil
- Feces / microbiology
- Feces / parasitology
- Female
- Horses
- Larva / microbiology
- Mitosporic Fungi / physiology
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
- Pest Control, Biological / methods
- Poaceae / microbiology
- Poaceae / parasitology
- Random Allocation
- Strongyle Infections, Equine / prevention & control
- Strongyloidea / growth & development
- Strongyloidea / microbiology
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 17 times.- de Oliveira LDSSCB, Dias FGS, Melo ALT, de Carvalho LM, Silva EN, Araújo JV. Bioverm(®) in the Control of Nematodes in Beef Cattle Raised in the Central-West Region of Brazil. Pathogens 2021 May 1;10(5).
- Braga FR, Ferraz CM, da Silva EN, de Araújo JV. Efficiency of the Bioverm (®) (Duddingtonia flagrans) fungal formulation to control in vivo and in vitro of Haemonchus contortus and Strongyloides papillosus in sheep. 3 Biotech 2020 Feb;10(2):62.
- Palomero AM, Hernández JA, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Balán FA, Silva MI, Paz-Silva A, Sánchez-Andrade R, Vázquez MSA. Implementation of Biological Control to the Integrated Control of Strongyle Infection among Wild Captive Equids in a Zoological Park. Biomed Res Int 2018;2018:4267683.
- Luns FD, Assis RCL, Silva LPC, Ferraz CM, Braga FR, de Araújo JV. Coadministration of Nematophagous Fungi for Biological Control over Nematodes in Bovine in the South-Eastern Brazil. Biomed Res Int 2018;2018:2934674.
- Hernández JÁ, Sánchez-Andrade R, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Arroyo FL, Sanchís JM, Paz-Silva A, Arias MS. A combined effort to avoid strongyle infection in horses in an oceanic climate region: rotational grazing and parasiticidal fungi. Parasit Vectors 2018 Apr 12;11(1):240.
- Hiura E, Del Carmen Garcia Lopes A, da Paz JS, Gava MG, Flecher MC, Colares M, de Freitas Soares FE, da Fonseca LA, Lacerda T, de Araújo JV, Braga FR. Fungi predatory activity on embryonated Toxocara canis eggs inoculated in domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and destruction of second stage larvae. Parasitol Res 2015 Sep;114(9):3301-8.
- Braga FR, Carvalho RO, Silva AR, Araújo JV, Frassy LN, Lafisca A, Soares FE. Predatory capability of the nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys robusta preserved in silica gel on infecting larvae of Haemonchus contortus. Trop Anim Health Prod 2014 Mar;46(3):571-4.
- Soares FE, Braga FR, Araújo JV, Geniêr HL, Gouveia AS, Queiroz JH. Nematicidal activity of three novel extracellular proteases of the nematophagous fungus Monacrosporium sinense. Parasitol Res 2013 Apr;112(4):1557-65.
- de Almeida GL, Santurio JM, Filho JO, Zanette RA, Camillo G, Flores AG, da Silva JH, de la Rue ML. Predatory activity of the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans in equine strongyle infective larvae on natural pasture in the Southern Region of Brazil. Parasitol Res 2012 Feb;110(2):657-62.
- Ferreira SR, de Araújo JV, Braga FR, Araujo JM, Fernandes FM. In vitro predatory activity of nematophagous fungi Duddingtonia flagrans on infective larvae of Oesophagostomum spp. after passing through gastrointestinal tract of pigs. Trop Anim Health Prod 2011 Dec;43(8):1589-93.
- Sagüés MF, Fusé LA, Fernández AS, Iglesias LE, Moreno FC, Saumell CA. Efficacy of an energy block containing Duddingtonia flagrans in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. Parasitol Res 2011 Sep;109(3):707-13.
- Araujo JM, Araújo JV, Braga FR, Carvalho RO. In vitro predatory activity of nematophagous fungi and after passing through gastrointestinal tract of equine on infective larvae of Strongyloides westeri. Parasitol Res 2010 Jun;107(1):103-8.
- Silva BF, Carrijo-Mauad JR, Braga FR, Campos AK, Araújo JV, Amarante AF. Efficacy of Duddingtonia flagrans and Arthrobotrys robusta in controlling sheep parasitic gastroenteritis. Parasitol Res 2010 May;106(6):1343-50.
- Braga FR, Araújo JV, Silva AR, Carvalho RO, Araujo JM, Ferreira SR, Benjamin LA. Predatory activity of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans on horse cyathostomin infective larvae. Trop Anim Health Prod 2010 Aug;42(6):1161-5.
- Fonseca JDS, Barbosa BB, Silva AP, Vázquez MSA, Cazapal Monteiro CF, Santos HA, de Araújo JV. Using Biocontrol Fungi to Control Helminthosis in Wild Animals: An Innovative Proposal for the Health and Conservation of Species. Pathogens 2025 Aug 5;14(8).
- do Carmo TA, Fonseca JDS, Braga FR, Paz-Silva A, de Soutello RVG, de Araújo JV. Exploring the Use of Helminthophagous Fungi in the Control of Helminthoses in Horses: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2025 Mar 18;15(6).
- Fakheri A, Esmaeilnejad B, Akbari H, Molaei R. In vitro evaluation of anthelmintic activity of biocompatibile carbon quantum dot nanocomposite against egg and larval stages of equine strongyles. BMC Vet Res 2025 Jan 22;21(1):32.
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