In Vitro Inhibiting Effects of Three Fungal Species on Eggs of Donkey Gastrointestinal Strongyles.

Michela Maestrini,Simone Mancini,Stefania Perrucci,Francesca Mancianti,Simona Nardoni

doi:10.3390/vetsci7020053

Abstract

Recently, donkeys have gained popularity mainly due to the use of donkey milk by the cosmetic industry and for human consumption. Gastrointestinal strongyles (GIS) are considered a potential cause of disease and reduced production in infected donkeys. European laws limit the use of anthelmintic drugs for the control of GIS in dairy donkey farms, thus the need to develop alternative control methods. This study aimed to test the in vitro inhibiting effects of three chitin degrading fungi (Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Beauveria bassiana) on the hatch and viability of donkey GIS eggs by using the egg hatch test, and to compare their activity to that of Pochonia chlamydosporia. About 150 eggs were added to 0.5 mL of sterile saline solution containing about 1.4 × 108 spores of each fungal species or with 0.5 mL of sterile saline solution only (untreated controls). After incubation, the percentage of egg hatch reduction was calculated, and data were statistically analyzed. All fungi were able to significantly reduce (p < 0.05) the hatch of GIS eggs compared to the untreated controls. Further studies that aim to investigate the efficiency of these fungi in reducing donkey GIS eggs in contaminated environments are encouraged.

Highlights

In recent years, the interest in dairy donkey farming has increased considerably in relation to the use of donkeys for social activities and to the popularity gained by donkey milk in some European countries [1]
(62.8% ± 3.88 and 62.2% ± 4.76, respectively) when compared to the untreated controls (Figure 1), while no differences were evidenced from the comparison of activity of these fungi to that of P. chlamydosporia
It is already known that the spores of P. chlamydosporia, when administered embedded in sodium alginate pellets, may pass through the gastrointestinal tract of the horse without viability alterations, exerting their ovicidal activity on Gastrointestinal strongyles (GIS) eggs contained in the feces

Summary

Introduction

The interest in dairy donkey farming has increased considerably in relation to the use of donkeys for social activities and to the popularity gained by donkey milk in some European countries [1]. In Italy, donkey milk is used for human consumption, and about 35 dairy farms and 700 donkeys of different breeds can be found in this country [1]. In order to guarantee the quantity, quality, and safety of donkey milk, it is necessary to adequately control donkey pathogens. Gastrointestinal strongyles (GIS), especially cyathostomins, are considered some of the most common and important donkey helminths [4,5]. The administration of anthelmintic drugs, mainly benzimidazoles, macrocyclic lactones, and tetrahydropyrimidines, may substantially reduce the prevalence of GIS infections [6,7]. The control of GIS in dairy donkey farms may be problematic. Anthelmintics commercially available for horses are not always licensed and safe to be used in

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion