Formulación de esporas de hongos parasiticidas en pellets nutricionales

El control de parásitos que afectan a animales requiere de mayor investigación sobre procedimientos para prevenir su infección y reducir la administración de antiparasitarios a aquellas situaciones estrictamente necesarias. De los resultados obtenidos en el presente trabajo se concluyó que Mucor circinelloides desarrolla un efecto ovicida de tipo 3 sobre los huevos del trematodo ruminal Calicophoron daubneyi, La resistencia de las esporas de M. circinelloides y D. flagrans a las condiciones de elaboración industrial de concentrado comercial hace posible su inclusión durante la fase de mezcla. De este modo, se obtiene un producto en el que no resultan afectadas las propiedades biológicas de los hongos (morfogénesis, esporogénesis) ni su actividad parasiticida

High Predatory Capacity of a Novel Arthrobotrys oligospora Variety on the Ovine Gastrointestinal Nematode Haemonchus contortus (Rhabditomorpha: Trichostrongylidae)

With the worldwide development of anthelmintic resistance, new alternative approaches for controlling gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep are urgently required. In this work, we identified and characterized native nematode-trapping fungi. We collected seven isolates of fungi with the capacity to form adhesive, three-dimensional networks as the main mechanism to capture, kill, and consume nematodes. The nematode-trapping fungi were classified into two groups; the first group includes the R2-13 strain, showing faster growth, abundant aerial hyphae, scarce conidia production, bigger conidia, and it formed a clade with Arthrobotrys oligospora sensu stricto. The second comprises the A6, A12, A13, R2-1, R2-6, and R2-14 strains, showing a growth adhering to the culture medium, forming little aerial hyphae, smaller conidia, and these formed a sister clade to A. oligospora. Except for the R2-6 strain, conidia production was induced by light. In all the strains, the predatory capacity against the sheep gastrointestinal nematode Haemonchus contortus was greater than 58% compared with the control group. The A6 and A13 strains were the most active against the infective H. contortus third instar (L3) larvae, with an average capture capacity of 91%. Altogether, our results support evidence for a novel A. oligospora variety with high nematode-trapping activity and promissory in helminthic controlThis research was funded by FONDEC-UAQ-2019 (Fondo para el desarrollo del Conocimiento—Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, FNB202002) to E.U.E.N.S

Bovine milk production in Campeche: prospects and challenges for rural producers' development

Objective: To characterize at the municipal level the productivity of the bovine-milk sector in the state of Campeche; to determine the profitability of the sector and propose improvement schemes to add value to the commercialization of the product. Design / Methodology / Approach: From the Agricultural and Fisheries Information System, variables were obtained: Production (thousands of L), Price ($L-1) and Value of Production (thousands of$) from 2006 to 2018. Through multivariate statistics and analysis, the profitability of the bovine-milk sector from 2013-2018 compared to 2007-2012 was determined. The analyses were completed by an interview with 12 milk producers who gave added value through the manufacture of chesses. Results: A drop in profitability (-8.8%) was found in the sector from 2013-2018 compared to 2007-2012, despite the increase in production of 6.2% that did not compensate for the fall in prices (-14.2%). The regions with the highest productivity were located from the center to the south of the state: Champotón (24.62%), Escárcega (17.36%) and Campeche (16.63%). Limitations / Implications: Adding value to the milk commodity is a priority need in the short term, to avoid abandoning the activity, which could compromise the economy of rural producers. Findings / Conclusions: The Mennonite settlements in Campeche have managed to add value to the cattle-milk sector through the manufacture and sale of artisan chesses. However, the great challenge of the sector is the revaluation of artisan chesses with market strategies that encourage the consumption of local resources in a context of globalization.Objective: To characterize at the municipal level the productivity of the bovine-milk sector in the state of Campeche, Mexico; to determine the profitability of the sector and to propose improvement schemes in order to add value to the commercialization of the product. Design/Methodology/Approach: From the Agricultural and Fisheries Information System, the following variables were obtained: Production (thousands of L), Price ($L-1) and Value of Production (thousands of$) from 2006 to 2018. Through multivariate statistics and analyses, the profitability of the bovine-milk sector from 2013-2018 compared to 2007-2012 was determined. The analyses were completed by an interview with 12 milk producers who gave added value through the manufacture of cheeses. Results: A drop in profitability (-8.8%) was found in the sector from 2013-2018 compared to 2007-2012, despite the increase in production of 6.2% that did not compensate for the fall in prices (-14.2%). The regions with the highest productivity were located from the center to the south of the state: Champotón (24.62%), Escárcega (17.36%), and Campeche (16.63%). Study Limitations/Implications: Adding value to the milk commodity is a priority need in the short term, to avoid abandoning the activity, which could compromise the economy of rural producers. Findings/Conclusions: The Mennonite settlements in Campeche have managed to add value to the bovine-milk sector through the manufacture and sale of artisan cheeses. However, the great challenge of the sector is the revaluation of artisan cheeses with market strategies that encourage the consumption of local resources in a context of globalization

Isolation of Ovicidal Fungi from Fecal Samples of Captive Animals Maintained in a Zoological Park

There are certain saprophytic fungi in the soil able to develop an antagonistic effect against eggs of parasites. Some of these fungal species are ingested by animals during grazing, and survive in their feces after passing through the digestive tract. To identify and isolate ovicidal fungi in the feces of wild captive animals, a total of 60 fecal samples were taken from different wild animals kept captive in the Marcelle Natureza Zoological Park (Lugo, Spain). After the serial culture of the feces onto Petri dishes with different media, their parasicitide activity was assayed against eggs of trematodes (Calicophoron daubneyi) and ascarids (Parascaris equorum). Seven fungal genera were identified in the feces. Isolates from Fusarium, Lecanicillium, Mucor, Trichoderma, and Verticillium showed an ovicidal effect classified as type 3, because of their ability to adhere to the eggshell, penetrate, and damage permanently the inner embryo. Penicillium and Gliocladium developed a type 1 effect (hyphae attach to the eggshell but morphological damage was not provoked). These results provide very interesting and useful information about fungi susceptible for being used in biological control procedures against parasitesThis research was partly supported by the Research Projects AGL2012-34355 and CTM2015-65954-R (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain; FEDER). María S. Arias is recipient of a “Parga Pondal” postdoctoral research fellowship (Xunta de Galicia, Spain)S

Evaluación de un método combinado de control de la hemoncosis ovina en condiciones controladas

The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of a combined method of parasitic control, with albendazol and Duddingtonia flagrans chlamydospores in Haemonchus contortus artificially infected sheep. Fourty H. contortus infected sheep, were used. This experiment was carried out in a 90 d period. Sheep were ramdomly divided into four groups of 10 animals each and received the following treatments: Group 1, albendazol at 7.5 mg/kg at d 0, 30 and 60, Group 2, received an oral treatment with 1x106 D. flagrans chlamydospores per kilogram, Group 3 received a combined treatment: albendazol was orally administered twice, at d 1 and 60 at the previously mentioned dose, and was also orally treated with D. flagrans chlamydospores everyday from d 30 to d 60 at the same dose than group 2, Group 4 (control group). Faecal samples were directly taken from rectum of sheep everyday during 90 days and the number of eggs per grams of feces (EPG) and the recovery and quantification of H. contortus larvae from coprocultures, were carried out. An ANOVA for a repeated measurements model was used (PSe evaluó un método antiparasitario combinado, mediante el uso de albendazol y del hongo Duddingtonia flagrans, en ovinos infectados con Haemonchus contortus. El experimento duró 90 días. Se formaron cuatro grupos de 10 corderos cada uno, infectados con H. contortus y recibieron los siguientes tratamientos: Grupo 1, albendazol (7.5 mg/kg), a los días 0, 30 y 60 del experimento, Grupo 2, recibió 1x106 clamidosporas de D. flagrans por kg, por vía oral, Grupo 3, recibió la combinación de ambos tratamientos y que consistió en dos aplicaciones de albendazol, al día 1 y al día 60, y la administración oral de clamidosporas de D. flagrans diariamente del día 30 al 60, con las mismas dosis que los grupos 1 y 2, El Grupo 4, actuó como grupo testigo, sin tratamiento. Durante el experimento, se tomaron muestras de heces semanalmente para estimar el número de huevos por gramo de heces (HPG) y para la recuperación y cuantificación de larvas (L3) por coprocultivos. El Análisis ANOVA para un modelo de mediciones repetidas, utilizando al promedio del número de larvas en coprocultivos como la variable dependiente, reveló que el albendazol tuvo una alta eficacia antihelmíntica en contra de H. contortus del 91 %, (

Implementation of Biological Control to the Integrated Control of Strongyle Infection among Wild Captive Equids in a Zoological Park

The integrated control of strongyles was assayed for a period of three years in wild equids (zebras, European donkeys, and African wild asses) captive in a zoo and infected by strongyles. During three years control of parasites consisted of deworming with ivermectin + praziquantel; equids also received every two days commercial nutritional pellets containing a blend of 104 - 105 spores of the fungi Mucor circinelloides + Duddingtonia flagrans per kg meal. Coprological analyses were done monthly to establish the counts of eggs of strongyles per gram of feces (EPG). The reductions in the fecal egg counts (FECR) and in the positive horses (PHR) were calculated fifteen days after deworming; the egg reappearance period (ERP) and the time elapsed from the previous deworming (TPD) were also recorded. Four anthelmintic treatments were administered during the assay, three times throughout the first 2 yrs, and another treatment during the last one. FECR values of 96-100% and 75-100% for the PHR were recorded. The ERP oscillated between eight and twenty-eight weeks, and the TPD ranged from four to eighteen months, increasing to the end of the trial. No side effects were observed in any of the equids. It is concluded that integrated control of strongyles among equids captive in a zoo can be developed by anthelmintic deworming together with the administration of pellets manufactured with spores of parasiticide fungi every two days

Functional and Quality Assessment of a Spore Harvester for Entomopathogenic Fungi for Biopesticide Production

The Green Revolution led to an increased use of synthetic pesticides, causing environmental pollution. As an alternative, biopesticides made from entomopathogenic agents such as fungi have been sought. This study aimed to design and evaluate the performance of a harvester machine for efficiently collecting entomopathogenic spores of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana grown on rice and corn substrates. The spore yield was estimated, and a spore count and a colony-forming unit (CFU) count were performed. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the mean values of spores obtained from different combinations of solid substrate and fungi. The Corn-Metarhizium combination produced 34.15 g of spores per kg of substrate and 1.51 × 109 CFUs mL−1. Similarly, the Rice-Metarhizium combination produced 57.35 g per kg and 1.59 × 109 CFUs mL−1. Meanwhile, the Corn-Beauveria combination yielded 35.47 g per kg and 1.00 × 109 CFUs mL−1, while the Rice-Beauveria combination had a yield of 38.26 g per kg and 4.50 × 108 CFUs mL−1. Based on the reported results, the Rice-Metarhizium combination appears to be the most effective, yielding the highest number of harvested spores per kg of substrate. The study estimated a total cost of approximately $409.31 for manufacturing the harvester, considering only the cost of the materials. These results could potentially increase the availability and affordability of entomopathogenic fungi in integrated pest management

Preliminary Bioactivity Assessment of <i>Myrothecium</i> Species (Stachybotryaceae) Crude Extracts against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> (Diptera: Culicidae): A First Approach from This Phytopathogenic Fungi

Mosquitoes, as insect vectors, play a crucial role in transmitting viruses and parasites, leading to millions of human deaths in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ethanolic extracts of three species within the genus Myrothecium (M. roridum, M. dimerum, and M. nivale) on Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae to assess the inhibitory effect on growth and development, as well as to determine mortality. We quantify the average lethal concentrations and provide a qualitative characterization of the chemical groups responsible for their potential. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids in the ethanolic extracts of the three fungal species. Tannins were found only in the extracts of M. dimerum and M. roridum. We observed a clear dependence of the effects of the crude extracts on mosquito larvae on the concentrations used and the duration of exposure. The toxic effect was observed after 48 h at a concentration of 800 ppm for both M. dimerum and M. nivale, while M. roridum showed effectiveness after 72 h. All three species within the genus Myrothecium exhibited 100% biological activity after 72 h of exposure at 600 ppm. At lower concentrations, there was moderate growth and development inhibitory activity in the insect life cycle. The study highlights the effectiveness of crude Myrothecium extracts in combating mosquito larvae, with effects becoming apparent between 48 and 72 h of exposure. This initial approach underscores the potential of the fungus’s secondary metabolites for further in-depth analysis of their individual effects or synergies between them