Biological control of nematode parasites of livestock in Fiji: screening of fresh dung of small ruminants for the presence of nematophagous fungi

Approximately 2500 faecal samples were collected per rectum from sheep and goats from 26 farms located on four of the Fijian islands where most of the small ruminants in this country are raised. The purpose was to screen thes e samples to isolate nematode-trapping fungi that had been acquired by thes e animals during the course of their feeding and which had remained viable following passage through their gastrointestinal tract. From these samples, 23 examples of nematophagous fungi were noted in the initial appraisal, fr om which 12 pure isolates (all of the genus Arthrobotrys) were made. A numb er factors emerged from this work which may have restricted the opportuniti es in which nematophagous fungi were detected, or isolated. (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.