Nematophagous Fungus: Pochonia chlamydosporia and Duddingtonia flagrans in the Control of Helminths in Laying Hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) Genus Hy-line Brown - Evaluation and Effectiveness

The resistance to anthelmintics in poultry farming and the challenges with the restricted use of drugs in organic farms make the use of biological controllers an innovative bridge to verminosis control. This paper aims to evaluate the efficacy of the larvicidal fungus Duddingtonia flagrans and the ovicidal fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia in Hy-line Brown (Gallus Gallus Domesticus) layer farms. Both fungi were combined in the core of the feed administered to the birds of the treated groups. 28,000 birds were used and divided into three treated groups (TG) in which the feed containing the fungus was administered. The poultry house itself manufactures the birds’ feed; the formula was included in the nucleus at a dose of 100 grams per ton of feed for 7 months. The concentration was 105 chlamydospores of P. chlamydosporia and D. flagrans per gram of the formulation. The control group (CG) received regular food from the farm. The birds were separated into four sheds with 7,000 birds in each. The egg per gram of feces (EPG) testing was performed using fresh fecal samples collected from the sheds over six months. Weather data was collected during the experiment. There was a reduction in the EPG count into three treated groups. The most prevalent helminth was the genus Ascaris. The formulation tested shows little efficacy in this dosage. Key points: • The use of the fungus P. chlamydosporia and D. flagrans in organic farms; • Use of biocontrol agents without chemicals in poultry;