A technique for the quantification of Duddingtonia flagrans chlamydospores in sheep faeces

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology Vol. 152; no. 3; pp. 339 - 343
• Main Authors: Ojeda-Robertos, N.F., Torres-Acosta, J.F.J., Ayala-Burgos, A., Aguilar-Caballero, A.J., Cob-Galera, L.A., Mendoza-de-Gives, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.04.2008; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Ascomycota - isolation & purification; Ascomycota - physiology; biological control; biological control agents; Chlamydospore quantification; chlamydospores; Colony Count, Microbial - veterinary; dosage; Duddingtonia flagrans; feces; Feces - microbiology; Feces - parasitology; fungi; gastrointestinal nematodes; Host-Parasite Interactions; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - parasitology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - therapy; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary; McMaster technique; Nematode Infections - parasitology; Nematode Infections - therapy; Nematode Infections - veterinary; new methods; Parasite Egg Count - veterinary; pest control; Pest Control, Biological; predaceous fungi; quantitative analysis; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - parasitology; Sheep Diseases - therapy; Sheep faeces; Spores, Fungal - isolation & purification; Duddingtonia flagrans; McMaster technique; Sheep faeces; Chlamydospore quantification
• ISSN: 0304-4017; 1873-2550
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.12.023

Previous observations showed that Duddingtonia flagrans chlamydospores were visualized in McMaster chambers containing faeces of treated sheep. This trial explored the McMaster technique as a tool to quantify chlamydospores in sheep faeces. A range of individual chlamydospore doses (from 19.5 × 10 6 to 177.5 × 10 6) were offered orally to nine lambs for 7 consecutive days. A faecal sample (5 g) was daily obtained from the rectum of each animal (from days 1 to 13) to perform the McMaster technique using a sugar flotation fluid with 1.27 g/mL density. Each chlamydospore counted in the McMaster chamber was considered as 50 chlamydospores per g of faeces (CPG). The results confirmed that the estimated CPG was associated with the daily dose offered to the animals ( r 2 = 0.90; P < 0.001). Furthermore, the total chlamydospore dose received by each animal was strongly associated to the total quantity of CPG obtained from the bulk faeces (TCtot) ( r 2 = 0.96; P < 0.0001). Quantification of CPG can be used as a helpful tool to determine the number of chlamydospores reaching the faeces in orally dosed animals. This could be used to evaluate the efficacy of D. flagrans for the control of gastrointestinal nematode larvae in sheep faeces.