Nematophagous fungi (Orbiliales) capturing, destroying and feeding on the histotrophic larvae of Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae)

This research was aimed at investigating the predatory behavior of three nematophagous fungi against the histotrophic larvae of H. contortus (L4). Infective larvae (L3) of H. contortus were used for comparison. Three nematophagous fungi were isolated from soil and identified as Arthrobotrys oligospora, A. musiformis and Monacrosporium thaumasium. Two series of agar plateswere used to grow the three NF. Two hundred histotrophic or infective larvae of H. contortus were added to series 1 plates and series 2 plates, respectively, and kept at room temperature. The reduction in larval population was estimated by comparing the mean number of larvae recovered from both series. Capture rates of infective larvae were as follows: A. oligospora 90.3%, A. musiformis 97%, and M. thaumasium 62.3% (P>0.0001). In comparison, the predatory capture rates of t the histotrophic larval populations were as follows: A. oligospora 63.3%; A. musiformis 73.2% and M. thaumasium 69.2% (P>0.0003). The lowest capture rate of histotrophic larvae was observed with A. oligospora and A. musiformis.