Passage of nematode-trapping fungi through the gastrointestinal tract of calves

In vivo experiments were performed to test six isolates of nematode-trapping fungi: two of Arthrobotrys robusta, one of A. conoides, one of Monacrosporidium ellypsosporum, one of M. thaumasium and one of M. sinense for passage through the gastrointestinal tract of calves without losing the ability to entrap infective Haemonchus placei larvae. Following administration of conidia and mycelium of fungi isolates to the calves, two isolates of A. robusta, one isolate of. A. conoides and one isolate of M. thaumasium met that goal when harvested from faecal samples and was later able to entrap the infective H. placei larvae. There was no evidence that the other isolates (M. ellypsosporum and M. sinense) passed through the gastrointestinal tract of the calves. Isolation from the faeces occurred from between 15 and 110 h following oral administration of fungi, with more isolation, mainly at the 15(th) hour.