Fungi That Enraps Nematodes

[tcmgpt13]

It seems more likely that duddingtonia flagrans is being used as the nematode destroying fungus in ruminants' feed rather than A. oligospora. To quote from the earlier research posted on this thread from Pubmed again:

The potential of using fungi to prevent nematodosis caused by parasites with free-living larval stages is well documented today. In this respect Duddingtonia flagrans, a net-trapping, nematode-destroying fungus, appears to be the most promising candidate.

[sarothra]

Originally Posted by tcmgpt13

It seems more likely that duddingtonia flagrans is being used as the nematode destroying fungus in ruminants' feed rather than A. oligospora. To quote from the earlier research posted on this thread from Pubmed again:

The potential of using fungi to prevent nematodosis caused by parasites with free-living larval stages is well documented today. In this respect Duddingtonia flagrans, a net-trapping, nematode-destroying fungus, appears to be the most promising candidate.

Here is an article about cows being fed Arthrobotrys (robusta):

http://www.ufrrj.br/rbpv/721998/c72117_122.pdf

Here is one about cows and goats being fed this fungus (to prevent nematode infection)

http://www.ufrrj.br/rbpv/721998/c72117_122.pdf

I am sure they use Duddington too. They use all kinds of parasitic fungi.

[tcmgpt13]

orgprints.org/4511/01/4511.pdf

TRENDS in Parasitology Vol.20 No.10 October 2004
Nematode control in ‘green’ ruminant
production systems
Peter J. Wallerand Stig M. Thamsborg Department of Parasitology (SWEPAR), National Veterinary Institute and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-751 89,
Uppsala, Sweden
Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology (DCEP), Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, DK-1870, Frederiksberg C.
Denmark]

Currently, the work on biological control of nematode
parasites of livestock is almost exclusively associated with
the nematode-destroying microfungus Duddingtonia fla-
grans. The microfungus has three very important attri-
butes: (i) the ability to survive gut passage of livestock;
(ii) the propensity to grow rapidly in freshly deposited
dung; and (iii) the possession of a voracious nematopha-
gous capacity [45]. This fungus thus breaks the life cycle
by capturing infective larval stages before they migrate
from dung to pasture, where they would otherwise be
acquired by grazing animals.
Field evaluation of this concept for a range of livestock
species, in a variety of geo-climatic regions, has been
under-way for the past decade [10,45,46]. At the same
time, several potential stumbling blocks on the path
towards product registration have largely been overcome.
First, it is now possible to produce large quantities of
D. flagrans spore material; second, long-term field trials
using D. flagrans have shown no adverse effects on the
environment; and third, it has been established that
D. flagrans is ubiquitous and that very close genetic
similarity exists between isolates from all regions of the
world [10].
The commonly used means of deployment of D. flagrans
spore material is by a feed additive. To achieve optimal
results, the fungal spores need to be continuously shed in
the dung of animals at the same time that contamination
of pasture with parasite eggs occurs [45]. Thus, daily
supplementation of fungal material is recommended
during the predetermined period of time that biological
control is to be effected [10]. Clearly, much greater
opportunities for this innovation would occur if effective
methods of D. flagrans depot delivery were available
Although work has been conducted aimed at developing
fungal feed blocks [47,48], and fungal-controlled release
devices [49], at this stage none of these prototype devices
provide the effective parasite control (continuous spore
release) for the minimum required time of at least two
months in temperate environment.


1: Vet Res. 2002 Nov-Dec;33(6):685-96.Click here to read Links
Nematophagous fungi as a biological control agent for nematode parasites of small ruminants in Malaysia: a special emphasis on Duddingtonia flagrans.
Chandrawathani P, Jamnah O, Waller PJ, Höglund J, Larsen M, Zahari WM.

Veterinary Research Institute, 59 Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 31400 Ipoh, Malaysia.

Approximately 2,800 fresh dung samples from animals, mainly ruminant livestock, were screened for the presence of nematophagous fungi in Malaysia. Arthrobotrys spp. was noted on numerous occasions, but only one isolate of Duddingtonia flagrans was made. For the purposes of producing sufficient quantities of this fungus for feeding trials in sheep, various, commonly available, cheap plant materials were tested as possible growth substrates. This showed that cereal grains (wheat, millet and rice) were the best media for fungal growth. Pen feeding trials were carried out using sheep, both naturally and experimentally infected with nematode parasites (predominantely Haemonchus contortus), to test the efficiency of D. flagrans when administered either in a grain supplement, or incorporated into a feed block. These showed that the fungus survived gut passage in sheep and that dose rates of approximately 1 x 10(6) D. flagrans spores / animal / day, reduced the percentage of infective larvae developing in faecal cultures by more than 90%. These results indicate that using D. flagrans as a biological control agent of nematode parasites, is a promising alternative to nematode parasite control of small ruminants in Malaysia, where anthelmintic resistance is now a major problem.

So far it appears as if most research into adding nematophagous fungi into animal feed has been done using the duddingtonia flagrans fungus. The problem with using any of these types of fungi appears to be adequate stable delivery with a low enough cost to produce and use them. I found one study from Brazil in 2006 which tested this fungi on cattle with favorable outcomes as well.