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This research assessed the dose/response to Duddingtonia flagrans chlamydospores (Df-C) administered to calves naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs), and its effect in reducing the infective larvae (L 3 ) population in faeces in a farm in the Mexican tropics. Forty zebu calves, between 6 and 12 months of age, were randomly distributed into four groups of 10 calves. One control and three groups treated with different oral doses of Df-C based on their body weight (BW) were established as follows: group 1 (control); group 2, 0.250 × 10 6 Df-C per kg/BW; group 3, 0.5 × 10 6 Df-C per kg/BW and group 4, 1 × 10 6 Df-C per kg/BW. The fungal doses were administered daily for 10 days. Every group was confined to individual pens, and they received a nutritional regime based on Buffel grass, concentrated supplement and water ad libitum. Every third day, starting one week before treatments, faeces were taken from the rectum of each animal to determine the number of eggs per g of faeces (epg) through the McMaster technique. Four coprocultures of 20 g each from each individual faecal sample were prepared and incubated for 14 days. The efficacy of the treatments was based on the mean of the GIN L 3 recovered from coprocultures of the different groups. Data were analysed using a completely randomized design through an ANOVA analysis, followed by a Duncan multiple range test. The efficacy of treatments was expressed as the larval reduction rate. High variation in the epg in the different groups along the experiment was recorded. The reduction in the GIN L 3 population was observed from the 4 to 11 day post-treatment in the three assessed doses. Results in group 2 (lowest fungal dose), showed 88.5, 57.6, 55.9 and 30% (58% overall reductions) in the GIN L 3 in the faeces of animals 4, 7, 9 and 11 days post-treatment, respectively. In group 3 (medium fungal dose), 95.8, 80.4, 63.4 and 52.7% GIN L 3 reductions (73% overall reduction) were recorded, respectively. At the highest Df-C dose used (1 × 10 6 per kg/BW), the results were 88.9, 78.0, 59.3 and 67.3% (73.5% overall reduction), respectively (p < 0.05). The species of identified nematodes through L 3 morphometric and molecular taxonomy were Cooperia spp. and H. contortus. From the three Df-C assessed doses, the medium dose (0.5 × 10 6 Df-C per kg/BW) was sufficient to substantially reduce the GIN L 3 in zebu calves maintained under conditions in the Mexican tropics., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aims of this study were: 1) to assess the anthelmintic effect of Gliricidia sepium on the establishment of C. punctata third-stage larvae (L 3 ) in calves, and 2) to isolate and to elucidate an anti-exsheathment phytochemical from the plant offered during the trial. Twelve ¾ Holstein × Zebu calves were divided in two experimental groups: control (T1) and treatment (T2) (n = 6). After adaptation, each calf was infected with an oral dose of 400 C. punctata L 3 /Kg LW. Basal diet consisted of Digitaria decumbens hay (6.27% CP) and commercial concentrate (12% CP). In addition, during the experimental period T2 received fresh G. sepium leaves (26.88% CP) ad libitum. On day 9 post-infection, three calves per treatment were randomly selected for slaughter, and worm counts were performed. Larval establishment rates obtained were 13.44 ± 0.13% and 3.1 ± 1.42% for T1 and T2, respectively (P < .05). The reduction of larval establishment was 76.9%. The total length of worms recovered from the animals was also affected by the intake of G. sepium (P < .05). Phytochemicals present in G. sepium leaves offered to calves were isolated through silica gel columns and elucidated through Magnetic Nuclear Resonance (1H and 13C). Bio-guided isolation procedures lead to the elucidation of Oxytroside (Kaempferol 3-O-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-rhamnopyranoside), which fully inhibited the C. punctata exsheathment process (2400 μg mL -1 ). Gliricidia sepium represents an alternative to prevent severe C. punctata infections by reducing larval establishment in cattle., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Leucaena leucocephala is a tropical forage legume suggested as an alternative method to control gastrointestinal parasitism in ruminants. This study: (1) performed a bio-guided fractionation of an aqueous extract of L. leucocephala using the egg hatch assay (EHA) to identify the anthelmintic (AH)-like phytochemicals present in fresh leaves, and (2) assessed the ultrastructural damage to eggs of Cooperia spp. after incubation with the final fraction. Phytochemicals were isolated using silica gel columns and identified using high performance liquid chromatography and standards for comparison. The final fraction was evaluated using EHA at 0.06, 0.125, 0.250, 0.500 and 1.1 mg ml(-1). The lethal concentration to inhibit 50% of Cooperia spp. egg hatching (LC50) was calculated using a Probit analysis. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed the ultrastructural changes present in Cooperia spp. eggs. Bio-guided isolation procedures led to the recognition of an active fraction (LlC1F3) mainly composed of quercetin (82.21%) and caffeic acid (13.42%) which inhibited 90.49 ± 2.8% of Cooperia spp. egg hatching (P<0.05), and an LC50 of 0.06 ± 0.14 mg ml(-1). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed eggs exposed to the active fraction had an irregular external layer with small projections and ruptures of lateral eggshell walls. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed changes to Cooperia spp. eggs in electro-density, including the thickness of the eggshell layers and fractures after incubation with the final fraction (LlC1F3). Changes in bioactivity after purification suggest synergistic interactions between quercetin and caffeic acid., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to identify the presence of anthelmintic resistance to benzimidazole (BZ) in gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) from naturally infected calves in the tropical regions of Campeche State of Mexico. The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was conducted at 10 livestock farms localised in the Carmen, Candelaria, Champotón, Escárcega and Palizada municipalities of Campeche. The assessed anthelmintic was albendazole. The trial period was between August and November 2012. Infected calves were allocated into two groups, control and treated, on each farm. The number of eggs excreted per g of faeces was estimated by the McMaster technique at 0 and 14 days pre- and post- treatment, respectively. Recovered infective larvae (L3) (pre- and post-treatment) were identified using taxonomic keys and a genomic DNA (gDNA) template from a pool of L3 species prior to BZ treatment. Additionally, BZ-resistance polymorphisms in Haemonchus were determined by Allele Specific PCR (AS-PCR) at codon 200 and by end-point PCR at codons 200, 198 and 167 from isotype 1 of the β-tubulin gene. Morphological identification revealed Haemonchus, Cooperia, Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia and Oesophagostumum L3 species before BZ treatment, and Haemonchus and Cooperia L3 species after treatment. Additionally, of the GIN populations, three exhibited BZ resistance, and seven were BZ-susceptible by FECRT. Molecular analysis identified mutations in Haemonchus populations on nine farms at codon 200 (TTC to TAC) by AS-PCR, while no changes were observed at 167 (TTC to TAC) or 198 (GAA to GCA) codons in any population. In conclusion, resistance to BZ was determined in Haemonchus and Cooperia nematodes in infected cattle in five tropical regions of Campeche State., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The reduction of Haemonchus contortus (L3) infective larvae in sheep faecal cultures caused by the action of three nematophagous fungi conidia was evaluated in vitro. Addition of 20,000 conidia of Monacrosporium eudermatum, Arthrobotrys oligospora and Arthrobotrys robusta per gram of faeces caused a reduction of 95.7%, 98.3% and 10.1%, respectively, compared with the control group. A 97.4% reduction was observed when combined conidia of the three fungi were used. Total reduction of the larval population was observed by addition of the three fungi at 100,000 conidia per gram of faeces.

In an in vitro trial, the effect of the nematode-destroying fungus Arthrobotrys robusta on Haemonchus contortus infective larvae was evaluated in petri dishes containing corn meal agar. After seven days incubation at 25 degrees C, 92.33% (+/- 4.1) predation was recorded.