Testing a Sustainable Strategy Against Poultry Helminth Stages Developing in the Soil
Free-ranging hens are at risk of infection by parasites characterized by certain stages that develop in the soil until attaining the infective phase. To analyze the usefulness of a biological control strategy of helminths affecting pasturing hens, fecal samples containing eggs of the helminths <i>Ascaridia galli</i> and <i>Capillaria</i> spp. were collected and then homogenized with an electric mixer. A total of 64 small areas were established by placing wooden frames (15 × 40 × 30 cm) on the ground and then adding approximately 100 g of a fecal mixture (per area). Four batches of 16 areas were considered: G1, sprayed with 2 × 10<sup>6</sup> spores of the parasitophagous fungus <i>Mucor circinelloides</i> (day 0) at 0.5 L/m<sup>2</sup> (=600 mL/area); G2, sprayed with spores twice (every two weeks); G3, sprayed four times (every week); and Control, sprayed weekly with water. After a four-week period, the egg viability reduced for ascarids and capillarids (26% and 27%, respectively) in the control group; 64% and 79% in G1; 71% and 82% in G2; and 79% and 80% in G3. It was concluded that spraying with fungal spores provides a very useful tool for preventing infection by helminths on free-range poultry.
Authors
- Luís Madeira de Carvalho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7548-667X)
- R. Sánchez‐Andrade (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1212-8250)
- José Ángel Hernández (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5357-4428)
- Gustavo Pérez-Anzúrez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7096-0002)
- Rodrigo Bonilla
- Cristiana Cazapal-Monteiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0368-6645)
- M. Arias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2682-9015)
- Jorge Gonzalez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8163-4299)
- A. Paz‐Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0208-3861)
- João Lozano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5390-6998)
- J. Sanchís (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9283-2768)
- Inês Abreu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7361-2347)
- Carlos Emiliano Magos Amado (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7745-9746)
- David Boso Dafonte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7606-6843)
Institutions
- University of Lisbon (PT)
- Universidad de la República de Uruguay (UY)
- Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (ES)
- University of Applied and Environmental Sciences (CO)
- Calando Pharmaceuticals (United States) (US)
- Centre for Research in Anthropology (PT)
- National Institute of Quality (PE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pathogens
- Published
- 2025-11-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14111168
- Primary Topic
- Helminth infection and control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- Xunta de Galicia
- European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
- European Regional Development Fund