In-vivo assay for the efficacy of Pochonia chlamydosporia as potential biological control agent against Fasciola spp. in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis [manuscript]
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Date
2017
Authors
Noriel B. Esteban
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Abstract
This study determined the ability of P. chlamydoporia to pass through the gastrointestinal tract of the water buffalo, retain its viability and assess the ovicidal activity of the nematophagous fungus against Fasciola spp. eggs. Twelve previously dewormed water buffaloes with a mean age of 7 months and normal weight ranging from 200-250 kg were divided into control and treated groups. Each animal of the treated group received a mycelial mass of P. chlamydosporia mixed in commercial feed pellets. The control group received pellet without the fungus. Fecal samples were collected from both group at intervals of 12, 18, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after pellet administration and placed in perti dishes containing 2% water agar. Approximately five hundred Fasciola spp. eggs were then plated on the petri dishes of control and treated group with six replicates, and incubated in the dark for 35 days. At the end of the experiment, one hundred eggs were observed from each petri dish and classified according to the following parameters. type 1, physiological and biochemical effect without morphological damage to eggshell, with hyphae adhered to the shell; type 2, lytic effect with morphological change in the eggshell and embryo without hyphal penetration, and type 3, lytic effect with morphological change in the eggshell and embryo, with hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization. Hyphal growth and formation was observed in petri dishes of the treated group. Based on the results, P. chlamydosporia remained viable after passing through the gastrointestinal tract of water buffalo but exhibited no ovicidal activity (type 3 effect) against Fasciola spp. eggs at all collection interval. Thus, the mycelial mat of the fungus was not efficient as a biological control agent against Fasciola spp. eggs.