Duddingtonia Flagrans: A Promising Fungal Biocontrol Agent For Gastrointestinal Nematodes In Small Ruminants

Summary

"Controlling gastrointestinal nematodes is a challenge for organic and conventional owners of small ruminants with access to pastures. A new biocontrol method using the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans is expected to complement existing alternatives for controlling gastrointestinal nematodes in grazing animals in the future. Animals receive chlamydospores of D. flagrans, which pass through the gastrointestinal tract and germinate in the freshly deposited faeces. In parallel to the development of helminth larvae, the fungal mycelium grows and forms trapping structures with which it fixes, kills and ""digests"" the nematode larvae. This leads to reduced pasture contamination and infection of subsequently grazing animals.In an experiment with organic dairy goats, a dose-dependent effect of D. flagrans administration was shown. Compared to horses, cattle and sheep, higher doses were required to obtain 70% reduction of helminth larval development in faecal cultures of goats."