Arthrobotrys cladodes and Pochonia chlamydosporia: Nematicidal effects of single and combined use after passage through cattle gastrointestinal tract.

Nematodiosis are responsible for financial losses in cattle production systems due to treatment costs, falling production rates and animal deaths. The incorporation of sodium alginate pellets containing nematophagous fungi in the bovine diet is a method for the control of nematodiosis. The aims of this study were to evaluate the viability of Arthrobotrys cladodes and Pochonia chlamydosporia contained in sodium alginate pellets after passage through the bovine gastrointestinal tract, as well as to evaluate the effects of single and combined use of these fungi against bovine parasitic nematodes. The reduction in parasitic nematode infective larvae of bovines by the combined use of Arthrobotrys cladodes and Pochonia chlamydosporia was more than the reduction in infective larvae by Arthrobotrys cladodes or Pochonia chlamydosporia alone in the collections 12, 24 and 36 h after giving the pellets to the animals. Arthrobotrys cladodes and Pochonia chlamydosporia combined promoted maximum reduction of infective larvae of 86.3%. Therefore, the combination of Arthrobotrys cladodes and Pochonia chlamydosporia may be an effective method to control gastrointestinal nematodiosis affecting grazing cattle.