POCHONIA CHLAMYDOSPORIA IN THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF FASCIOLA HEPATICA IN CATTLE IN SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL
Autor(es): ANDERSON SILVA DIAS, JACKSON VICTOR DE ARAÚJO, FÁBIO RIBEIRO BRAGA, ANDRÉ COTTA PUPPIN, WILBER RIBEIRO PERBONI
POCHONIA CHLAMYDOSPORIA IN THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF FASCIOLA HEPATICA IN CATTLE IN SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL
» Área de pesquisa: HELMINTOLOGIA
» Instituição: UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VIÇOSA
» Agência de fomento e patrocinadores: FAPEMIG, CNPq, CAPES e CAPES/FINEP
Biological control with nematophagous fungi has been described as a complementary control method, for free-living forms of helminths. The efficacy of the fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia against Fasciola hepatica eggs in faeces was evaluated in the field. Two bovine groups (six animals each) were used: A (control) and B (treated with fungus). Thirty days after deworming, the animals were separated into two similar paddocks with flooded areas and were used pellets with 25% mycelial mass (group B) or no fungus (group A) at a dose of 1 g/10 kg body weight, twice a week, during 18 months. Faecal samples were collected fortnightly from the animals of groups A and B and they were submitted at examination of quantitative sedimentation. The mean count of F. hepatica eggs per gram of faeces was higher in group A (1.19) compared with those from group B (0.82) (P<0.01). After 18 months, animals from group B had gained 42.33 kg above (17.82% more by weight) (P<0.01), than those of the control group (A). Every month, faecal samples from paddocks A and B were collected and they were incubated. P. chlamydosporia was identified only in sample source of the paddock B. The application of this fungical formulation with P. chlamydosporia at 25% mycelial mass reduced the availability of eggs in the environment and reinfections in calves in natural conditions.
