Destruction of Anoplocephala perfoliata Eggs by the Nematophagous Fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia

The in vitro effect of an isolate of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia (VC1) on the eggs of Anoplocephala perfoliata was evaluated. The eggs were morphologically analyzed for their integrity using light microscopy (10× objectives), plated on 9.0-cm diameter petri dishes containing 2% WA culture medium with and without fungal isolate (control), grown for 10 days, and 10 replicates were prepared per group. In all, 1000 eggs of A perfoliata were plated on petri dishes containing 2% water agar culture medium with (VC1) and without the fungal isolate (control). After 3, 5, 7, and 10 days, approximately 100 eggs were removed from each plate and classified on the basis of the following parameters: without alteration; type 1, lytic effect without morphological damage to eggshell; type 2, lytic effect with morphological alteration of embryo and eggshell; and type 3, lytic effect with morphological alteration of embryo and eggshell, in addition to hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization and destruction. The P chlamydosporia fungus demonstrated ovicidal activity (P < .05) on the eggs of A perfoliata in the studied intervals presenting type 3 effects of 35%, 42.5%, 53.83%, and 71.17% for the intervals 3, 5, 7, and 10 days, respectively. P chlamydosporia is a potential biological control agent for the eggs of A perfoliata.