Predatory Capacity in vitro of Native Nematophagous Fungi from Cundinamarca on Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Cattle

Abstract

Dependence and indiscriminate use of chemical anthelmintics as the sole method for controlling gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of cattle causes problems in the environment, public health, and the productivity of cattle. It is important to develop non-chemical control strategies. Nematophagous fungi can be a viable and promising alternative for the control of these endoparasites. This study aimed to isolate, identify and evaluate <em>in vitro</em> the potential of nematophagous fungi from Cundinamarca on L3 larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle. 60 soil samples from cattle ranches were sown in Petri boxes containing agar-water for trapping fungi, and three strains of the fungus <em>Arthrobotrys oligospora</em> (L1, XVIII, and XXI) and one of <em>Arthrobotrys musiformis</em> (XXIV) were identified by morphometric keys. 1 x 10⁶ conidia or chlamydospores of each fungi were used, which faced 100 nematode larvae. Isolate XXIV (<em>A. musiformis</em>) showed greater predatory capacity (96.8%) than isolates (<em>A. oligospora</em>) XVIII, L1, and XXI (69.68, 71.1, and 87.62%, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) among the strains with more predatory capacity. This is the first record of <em>in vitro</em> identification and evaluation of the predatory capacity of <em>A. oligospora</em> and <em>A. musiformis</em>, native fungi from Cundinamarca. The results suggest that these fungi could be used as biocontrol agents of nematodes in cattle.