RT Journal Article
T1 Isolation of saprophytic filamentous fungi from avian fecal samples and assessment of its predatory activity on coccidian oocysts
A1 Lozano, João
A1 Louro, Mariana
A1 Almeida, Cristina
A1 Victório, Ana Cláudia
A1 Melo, Pedro
A1 Rodrigues, João Paulo
A1 Oliveira, Manuela
A1 Paz Silva, Adolfo
A1 Madeira de Carvalho, Luís
K1 Duddingtonia Flagrans
K1 Nematophagous Fungi
K1 Pochonia Chlamydosporia
K1 Biological Control
K1 Gastrointestinal Nematodes
K1 Sheep
K1 Identification
K1 Eggs
K1 Diagnosis
K1 Parasites
AB Fungal strains used in the biocontrol of animal gastrointestinal parasites have been mainly isolated from pasture soil, decaying organic matter, and feces from herbivores and carnivores. However, their isolation from birds and assessment of predatory activity against avian GI parasites has been scarce thus far. This research aimed to isolate filamentous fungi from avian fecal samples and evaluate their predatory activity against coccidia. A pool of 58 fecal samples from chickens, laying hens, and peacocks, previously collected between July 2020-April 2021, were used for isolation of filamentous fungi and assessment of their in vitro predatory activity against coccidian oocysts, using Water-Agar medium and coprocultures. The Willis-flotation technique was also performed to obtain concentrated suspensions of oocysts. A total of seven Mucor isolates was obtained, being the only fungal taxa identified, and all presented lytic activity against coccidia. Isolates FR3, QP2 and SJ1 had significant coccidiostatic efficacies (inhibition of sporulation) higher than 70%, while isolates FR1, QP2 and QP1 had coccidicidal efficacies (destruction of the oocysts) of 22%, 14% and 8%, respectively, after 14 days of incubation, being a gradual and time-dependent process. To our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the isolation of native predatory fungi from avian feces and demonstration of their lytic activity against coccidia.
PB Nature Research
SN 2045-2322
YR 2023
FD 2023-06-29
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/38918
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/38918
LA eng
NO Lozano, J., Louro, M., Almeida, C. et al. Isolation of saprophytic filamentous fungi from avian fecal samples and assessment of its predatory activity on coccidian oocysts. Sci Rep 13, 8965 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36120-5
NO This research was funded by CIISA/FMV Project UIDB/00276/2020 and LA/P/0059/2020—AL4AnimalS (both funded by FCT), as well as by Project ED431B 2021/07 (Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Universidades, Xunta de Galicia). Also, João Lozano and Mariana Louro hold the PhD Research Fellowships 2020.09037.BD and UI/BD/152818/2022, respectively (both funded by FCT). We would like to thank the Laboratories of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, and Microbiology and Immunology (CIISA-FMV, Lisbon, Portugal), and their leaders, Professors Doctors Isabel Fonseca and Luís Tavares, respectively, for providing support to this research and allowing to perform it at the respective facilities. Also, special thanks to the COPAR research group (Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain) for all the support regarding the isolation and identification of predatory fungi, and the in vitro trials. Finally, we would like to acknowledge STAB VIDA, Lda. (Caparica, Portugal) for purifying and sequencing the fungal PCR products.
DS Minerva
RD 3 may 2026