THE CONTROL OF THE FREE-LIVING STAGES OF STRONGYLOIDES PAPILLOSUS BY THE NEMATOPHAGOUS FUNGUS, ARTHROBOTRYS OLIGOSPORA

Two laboratory trials were conducted to determine the effect of the ad dition of spores (conidia) of the nematophagous fungus, Arthrobotrys o ligospora, on the development of the ruminant parasite, Strongyloides papillosus, in cultures of bovine faeces. Both studies showed that at a concentration of 2000 conidia/g faeces virtually eliminated infectiv e larvae (> 99% reduction), following 14 days incubation under ideal c onditions (25 degrees C and saturated humidity) for free-living develo pment of this parasite species. In one trial, a high level of control was also observed at a 10-fold decrease in conidia concentration (200 spores/g faeces), This work has demonstrated, in principle, that A. ol igospora could provide a practical biological control agent against S. papillosus infecting intensively raised young ruminants in the humid tropics/subtropics. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.