Biological control of Fasciola hepatica eggs with the Pochonia chlamydosporia fungus after passing through the cattle gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

Fasciolosis is a disease caused by Fasciola hepatica responsible for causing significant losses in livestock. This study aimed to evaluate the Pochonia chlamydosporia fungus (isolate VC1) on F. hepatica eggs after passing through the cattle gastrointestinal tract. For this evaluation, 1 g pellet was given in sodium alginate matrix per kilogram live weight containing 25% of fungal mycelium from isolate VC1 per animal. Twelve animals were used, six treated and six untreated (control). Some stool samples were collected from the groups of treated and control animals, at the times of 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after the pellets' administration. Then, from each stool sample of treated and control groups, 2 g was placed in a Petri dish of 9 cm in diameter, containing 2% water–agar and 1,000 eggs of F. hepatica. It was observed that the fungus was effective in preying upon the eggs in the samples recovered at all of the schedules starting at 12 h. Furthermore, differences were observed (p < 0.01) in the destruction of eggs in the Petri dishes in the treated group compared with the control group. The ovicidal effect was observed after 7 days of interaction. The ovicidal P. chlamydosporia fungus was effective in destroying F. hepatica eggs; therefore, it is suggested that this fungus could be employed as agent for the control of helminth eggs.