Effect of condensed tannins extracted from four forages on the viability of the larvae of deer lungworms and gastrointestinal nematodes

The inhibitory activity of condensed tannins extracted from four forage legume plants were evaluated by using a larval migration inhibition assay. The first (LI) and third (L3) stages of deer lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus), and the third stage (L3) of deer gastrointestinal nematodes were incubated with tannins extracted from Lotus pedunculatus, Lotus corniculatus, sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) and sainfoin (Onobrychus viciifolia). The tannins extracted from all the forages had inhibitory activity as measured by their ability to paralyse the larvae and inhibit them from passing through sieves. At the highest concentration used (1200 μg/ml) the tannins extracted from sainfoin had the highest activity against ensheathed L1 lungworm larvae (58 per cent), followed by L pedunculatus (45 per cent), sulla (42 per cent) and L corniculatus (35 per cent) when the larvae were incubated at 37°C. The same trend, but with lower activities, was observed when the larvae were incubated at 22°C. Anthelmintic activity against L3 lungworm larvae was evaluated by measuring the death rate of ensheathed L3 larvae after incubation with condensed tannins for two, 24 and 48 hours at room temperature (22°C). The death rate was significantly higher (P