IN VITRO ASSESSMENT OF NEMATOPHAGUS FUNGI FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODES OF RUMINANTS

Objetive. To determine in vitro predatory activity of fungi strains nematófagos native of Costa Rica. Materials and methods. Sixteen native strains of nematophagus fungi from Costa Rica isolated from different substrata and identified as Candelabrella musiformis, Arthrobotrys oligospora and Dactylella sp. In order to assess their fungi predatory activity, it was evaluated in vitro assay gastrointestinal nemátodos as Haemonchus spp., Oesophagostomum sp. and Trichostrongylus sp, isolated from small ruminants. Results. The activity of fungi was very heterogeneous, ranging between 9.8 and 99.6%. Conclusions. The statistical analysis showed significant differences; however, A. oligospora strains were more effective in capturing nematodes in comparison with C. musiformis and Dactylella sp. strains. Heterogeneity is explained by factors like strains origin, their own characteristics and type of larvae used in the test.