Effect of refrigeration storage of nemathophagous fungi embedded in sodium alginate pellets on predatory activity against asinine gastrointestinal nematodes

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pelleted formulations of Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium sodium alginate matrix stored for two and five years, by refrigeration of 2–8°C, on the predation of nematode infective larvae after passage of the gastrointestinal tract of asinines. Asinines were divided into seven groups, each group containing eight animals, in which each animal received a single dose of 100?g of pellets (containing 20?g of fungal mycelia) along with commercial feed to facilitate ingestion: GI – received D. flagrans pellets stored for five years; GII- received pellets of D. flagrans stored for two years; GIII – received newly produced D. flagrans pellets; GIV – received pellets of M. thaumasium stored for five years; GV – received pellets of M. thaumasium stored for two years; GVI – received pellets of newly-stocked M. thaumasium; and Control – received pellets without nematophagous fungi. It was observed that after passage of the pellets containing D. flangras (AC001) and M. thaumasium (NF34) by the gastrointestinal tract of the asinines, regardless of pellet storage time in assays A (Petri dishes) and B (coprocultures), there was a significant larval reduction (p?<?0.01) up to 72?h. It was concluded that the use of sodium alginate matrix pellets containing D. flagrans and M. thaumasium stored for two and five years were effective on the predation of infective nematode larvae after passage of the gastrointestinal tract from asinines.     

Laboratory diagnosis of mange-causing mites in dogs using a modified centrifugation-flotation technique in sucrose solution

Among the skin disorders of dogs, scabies is notable for its high occurrence rate and the need for veterinary interventions. There are two obstacles to making this diagnosis through direct investigation under a microscope (DIM): the continual need to make new slides when the results are negative and the long time needed for reading these slides. Thus, the objective of the present study was to compare efficacy between DIM and the technique of centrifugation-flotation in sucrose solution (CFSS) in samples from dogs in the semiarid region of the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Samples from 136 dogs were used, and three slides were made for each examination (DIM and CFSS). The readings were halted in cases of positivity. Positive samples were obtained from 56.6% of the dogs (77/136), of which 76.6% (59/77) were positive through both techniques, 13% (10/77) only through DIM and 10.4% (8/77) only through CFSS. The positivity rate did not differ statistically between the techniques. CFSS showed higher quality of readings, due to the considerably fewer artifacts on the slides, thereby optimizing the reading time. Sensitivity (85.6%), specificity (88.1%), accuracy (86.8%), positive predictive value (88.1%) and negative predictive value (85.1%) were obtained and the kappa coefficient (0.73) was considered substantial. It was concluded that CFSS showed high diagnostic capacity for scabies, similar to that of DIM, with optimized reading time, fewer artifacts and better display of mites.