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Lozano J, Almeida C, Vicente E, Sebastião D, Palomero AM, Cazapal-Monteiro C, Arias MS, Oliveira M, Carvalho LMD, Paz-Silva A. Assessing the efficacy of the ovicidal fungus Mucor circinelloides in reducing coccidia parasitism in peacocks. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11352. [PMID: 38762506 PMCID: PMC11102495 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61816-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The biological control of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites using predatory fungi has been recently proposed as an accurate and sustainable approach in birds. The current study aimed to assess for the first time the efficacy of using the native ovicidal fungus Mucor circinelloides (FMV-FR1) in reducing coccidia parasitism in peacocks. For this purpose, an in vivo trial was designed in the resident peacock collection (n = 58 birds) of the São Jorge Castle, at Lisbon, Portugal. These animals presented an initial severe infection by coccidia of the genus Eimeria (20106 ± 8034 oocysts per gram of feces, OPG), and thus received commercial feed enriched with a M. circinelloides suspension (1.01 × 108 spores/kg feed), thrice-weekly. Fresh feces were collected every 15 days to calculate the coccidia shedding, using the Mini-FLOTAC technique. The same bird flock served simultaneously as control (t0 days) and test groups (t15-t90 days). The average Eimeria sp. shedding in peacocks decreased up to 92% following fungal administrations, with significant reduction efficacies of 78% (p = 0.004) and 92% (p = 0.012) after 45 and 60 days, respectively. Results from this study suggest that the administration of M. circinelloides spores to birds is an accurate solution to reduce their coccidia parasitism.
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Grants
- CIISA/FMV Project UIDB/00276/2020 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
- CIISA/FMV Project UIDB/00276/2020 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
- CIISA/FMV Project UIDB/00276/2020 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
- Project PID2020-120208RB-I00 MCINN, Spain; FEDER
- Project PID2020-120208RB-I00 MCINN, Spain; FEDER
- Project PID2020-120208RB-I00 MCINN, Spain; FEDER
- Project PID2020-120208RB-I00 MCINN, Spain; FEDER
- Project ED431B 2021/07 Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia
- Project ED431B 2021/07 Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia
- Project ED431B 2021/07 Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia
- Project ED431B 2021/07 Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia
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Affiliation(s)
- João Lozano
- CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cristina Almeida
- Exoclinic - Clínica Veterinária de Aves e Exóticos, Quinta de Santo António, 1495-049, Miraflores, Portugal
| | - Eduardo Vicente
- EGEAC - Empresa de Gestão de Equipamentos e Animação Cultural, Castelo de São Jorge, Rua de Santa Cruz, 1100-129, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniela Sebastião
- EGEAC - Empresa de Gestão de Equipamentos e Animação Cultural, Castelo de São Jorge, Rua de Santa Cruz, 1100-129, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Antonio Miguel Palomero
- Control of Parasites Research Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Cristiana Cazapal-Monteiro
- Control of Parasites Research Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - María Sol Arias
- Control of Parasites Research Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Manuela Oliveira
- CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Luís Madeira de Carvalho
- CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Adolfo Paz-Silva
- Control of Parasites Research Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Spain
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Wang BB, Li YL, Tian SY, Wang HZ, Li X, Wang FH, Cai KZ. Chlamydospore dormancy and predatory activity of nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans. J Basic Microbiol 2024; 64:e2300365. [PMID: 38012466 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The chlamydospores of Duddingtonia flagrans are an essential survival and reproductive structure and also an effective ingredient for the biocontrol of parasitic nematodes in livestock. In this study, entering and exiting dormancy conditions and predatory activity of the fungal chlamydospores were conducted. During this fungal growth process, the cultivation time is negatively correlated with spore germination rates. After the spores were processed by vacuum drying for 168 h, their germination rate dropped to 0.94%. In contrast, the percentage of living spores remained 54.82%, suggesting that the spores entered structural dormancy in the arid environment. Meanwhile, the efficacies of the spore against Haemonchus contortus larvae were 93.05% (0 h), 92.19% (16 h), 92.77% (96 h), and 86.45% (168 h), respectively. After dormant spores were stored at 4°C, -20°C, and 28°C (RH90 ~ 95%) for 7 days, their germination rate began to increase significantly (p < 0.05). For in vitro predation assay under the condition of 28°C (RH90 ~ 95%), the predation rate was significantly higher on the 7th day after incubation than that on the 3rd day (p < 0.05). During the period when spores were stored at room temperature for 8 months, their germination rate decreased in the first 5 months and then increased slowly to reach a peak in the 7th month. However, the reduction rate of H. contortus L3 in feces captured by spores remained above 71% for the first 7 months. These results will help us increase the end products yield and the quality of biological control of parasitic nematodes in livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Bo Wang
- Department of Medicine, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
- Yan'an Key Laboratory of Zoonotic Parasitology Laboratory, Yan'an, China
| | - You-Lei Li
- Department of Medicine, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Shu-Yue Tian
- Department of Medicine, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Hai-Zhou Wang
- Department of Medicine, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Medicine, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Feng-Hui Wang
- Department of Medicine, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
- Yan'an Key Laboratory of Fungi Resources Development and Biological Control, Yan'an, China
| | - Kui-Zheng Cai
- Department of Medicine, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
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Nunes GT, Corrêa DC, Chitolina MB, da Rosa G, Pereira RCDF, Cargnelutti JF, Vogel FSF. Efficacy Evaluation of a Commercial Formulation With Duddingtonia Flagrans in Equine Gastrointestinal Nematodes. J Equine Vet Sci 2023; 131:104930. [PMID: 37739142 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
The indiscriminate use of antiparasitics for the treatment of helminths in horses has caused the ineffectiveness of commonly used chemical active principles, therefore, new alternatives such as the use of helminthophagous fungi have been studied. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of the commercial formulation Bioverm, composed of the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans strain AC001, in the reduction of gastrointestinal nematode larvae in equine feces. In coproculture, the genus Cyathostomum sp. was the most prevalent in the analyzed samples. The commercial formulation with D. flagrans demonstrated effectiveness in the predation of Cyathostomum sp. in tests. The recommended dose of 0.4 g, containing 105 chlamydospores per gram of product, reduced larvae by 44.23%, while the extrapolated dose of 1.0 g with the same concentrations of chlamydospores (105/g) resulted in a reduction of 57.20%, indicating the effectiveness of the product in controlling infective larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Tormes Nunes
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Laboratório de Bacteriologia (LABAC), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Diego Cristiano Corrêa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Laboratório de Bacteriologia (LABAC), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Gilneia da Rosa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Juliana Felipetto Cargnelutti
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Laboratório de Bacteriologia (LABAC), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Silveira Flôres Vogel
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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Trapping Behaviour of Duddingtonia flagrans against Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Cattle under Year-Round Grazing Conditions. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030401. [PMID: 36986322 PMCID: PMC10055868 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of using nematophagous fungi as biological control agents of gastrointestinal nematodes of livestock is to reduce the build-up of infective larvae on pasture and thus avoid clinical and subclinical disease. As the interaction of fungus-larval stages takes place in the environment, it is crucial to know how useful the fungal agents are throughout the seasons in areas where livestock graze all year-round. This study was designed to determine the predatory ability of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans against gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle during four experiments set up in different seasons. In each experiment, faeces containing eggs of gastrointestinal nematodes were mixed with 11,000 chlamydospores/g and deposited on pasture plots. A comparison between fungal-added faeces and control faeces without fungus were made with regard to pasture infectivity, larval presence in faecal pats, faecal cultures, faecal pat weight, and temperature inside the faecal mass. In three of the four experiments, Duddingtonia flagrans significantly reduced the population of infective larvae in cultures (68 to 97%), on herbage (80 to 100%), and inside the faecal pats (70 to 95%). The study demonstrated the possibility of counting on a biological control tool throughout most of the year in cattle regions with extensive grazing seasons.
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Li S, Wang D, Gong J, Zhang Y. Individual and Combined Application of Nematophagous Fungi as Biological Control Agents against Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Domestic Animals. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020172. [PMID: 35215117 PMCID: PMC8879429 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are a group of parasites that threaten livestock yields, and the consequent economic losses have led to major concern in the agricultural industry worldwide. The high frequency of anthelmintic resistance amongst GINs has prompted the search for sustainable alternatives. Recently, a substantial number of both in vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that biological controls based on predatory fungi and ovicidal fungi are the most promising alternatives to chemical controls. In this respect, the morphological characteristics of the most representative species of these two large groups of fungi, their nematicidal activity and mechanisms of action against GINs, have been increasingly studied. Given the limitation of the independent use of a single nematophagous fungus (NF), combined applications which combine multiple fungi, or fungi and chemical controls, have become increasingly popular, although these new strategies still have antagonistic effects on the candidates. In this review, we summarize both the advantages and disadvantages of the individual fungi and the combined applications identified to date to minimize recurring infections or to disrupt the life cycle of GINs. The need to discover novel and high-efficiency nematicidal isolates and the application of our understanding to the appropriate selection of associated applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuoshuo Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Key Laboratory for Southwest Microbial Diversity of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (S.L.); (D.W.); (J.G.)
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Da Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Key Laboratory for Southwest Microbial Diversity of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (S.L.); (D.W.); (J.G.)
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Jianchuan Gong
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Key Laboratory for Southwest Microbial Diversity of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (S.L.); (D.W.); (J.G.)
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Key Laboratory for Southwest Microbial Diversity of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (S.L.); (D.W.); (J.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Survival of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans to in vitro segments of sheep gastrointestinal tract. Exp Parasitol 2021; 231:108172. [PMID: 34774533 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2021.108172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans is used in integrated management of gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants. The chlamydospores of the fungus, orally administered, pass through the segments of the ruminant digestive tract and, in the feces, capture the nematodes preventing their migration to grasslands. The drastic conditions of the gastrointestinal segments can negatively affect the fungus' biocontrol activity. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of in vitro conditions of the sheep's main gastrointestinal segments on the concentration, viability and nematode predatory ability of D. flagrans chlamydospores. The segments evaluated separately in vitro were the oral cavity, rumen, abomasum, and small intestine. The results showed that chlamydospores concentration was not affected by exposure to the different segments. The viability of the chlamydospores after exposure to the oral cavity (2.53 × 106 CFU/mL) and small intestine (1.24 × 105 CFU/mL) was significantly lower than its control treatment, with values of 6.67 × 106 CFU/mL and 2.31 × 105 CFU/mL respectively. Nematode predatory ability after rumen exposure was reduced by 7% compared to the control treatment, by 25% after abomasum exposure and by 17% after small intestine. This study revealed the individual in vitro effect of each segment of ovine gastrointestinal tract on the integrity of this strain of the fungus D. flagrans affecting its viability and nematode predatory ability under the evaluated conditions. Delivery systems could be designed to protect chlamydospores considering the impact of each gastrointestinal segment.
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Céspedes-Gutiérrez E, Aragón-Novoa DM, Gómez-Álvarez MI, Cortés-Rojas DF. In vitro evaluation of physicochemical variables on the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans. J Basic Microbiol 2021; 61:547-556. [PMID: 33852161 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202100039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Duddingtonia flagrans is a biological alternative to the use of anthelmintic drugs in ruminants. This fungus must be ingested by the animal, pass through the cavities of the digestive tract and reach the feces where it develops traps that capture the nematodes. The severe conditions encountered in this process negatively affect the fungus, which is reflected in the low recovery rates compared to the amount administered. The aim of this study was to evaluate independently the in vitro effect of typical physical and chemical conditions of the gastrointestinal cavities of ruminants on the concentration, viability, and the in vitro nematode predatory ability of the chlamydospores of D. flagrans. The factors evaluated individually were pH (2, 6, and 8), temperature (28 ± 2°C and 39 ± 2°C), exposure to artificial saliva, and milling. The results showed that the concentration and viability of D. flagrans were not affected by the action of pH, temperature, milling, or exposure to artificial saliva. Regarding the in vitro nematode predatory ability, a reduction was observed after the milling process and the exposure for 24 h at different pH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martha I Gómez-Álvarez
- Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria - AGROSAVIA, Headquarters, Mosquera, Colombia
| | - Diego F Cortés-Rojas
- Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria - AGROSAVIA, Headquarters, Mosquera, Colombia
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van Wyk S, Wingfield BD, De Vos L, van der Merwe NA, Steenkamp ET. Genome-Wide Analyses of Repeat-Induced Point Mutations in the Ascomycota. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:622368. [PMID: 33597932 PMCID: PMC7882544 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.622368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Repeat-Induced Point (RIP) mutation pathway is a fungus-specific genome defense mechanism that mitigates the deleterious consequences of repeated genomic regions and transposable elements (TEs). RIP mutates targeted sequences by introducing cytosine to thymine transitions. We investigated the genome-wide occurrence and extent of RIP with a sliding-window approach. Using genome-wide RIP data and two sets of control groups, the association between RIP, TEs, and GC content were contrasted in organisms capable and incapable of RIP. Based on these data, we then set out to determine the extent and occurrence of RIP in 58 representatives of the Ascomycota. The findings were summarized by placing each of the fungi investigated in one of six categories based on the extent of genome-wide RIP. In silico RIP analyses, using a sliding-window approach with stringent RIP parameters, implemented simultaneously within the same genetic context, on high quality genome assemblies, yielded superior results in determining the genome-wide RIP among the Ascomycota. Most Ascomycota had RIP and these mutations were particularly widespread among classes of the Pezizomycotina, including the early diverging Orbiliomycetes and the Pezizomycetes. The most extreme cases of RIP were limited to representatives of the Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes. By contrast, the genomes of the Taphrinomycotina and Saccharomycotina contained no detectable evidence of RIP. Also, recent losses in RIP combined with controlled TE proliferation in the Pezizomycotina subphyla may promote substantial genome enlargement as well as the formation of sub-genomic compartments. These findings have broadened our understanding of the taxonomic range and extent of RIP in Ascomycota and how this pathway affects the genomes of fungi harboring it.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Emma T. Steenkamp
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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