The ovicidal activity of fungi Pochonia chlamydosporia and Paecilomyces lilacinus on Taenia saginata eggs in laboratory trial Atividade ovicida dos fungos Pochonia chlamydosporia e Paecilomyces lilacinus sobre ovos de Taenia saginata em condições laboratoriais

The ovicidal activity (type 3 effect) of fungi Pochonia chlamydosporia (VC1 and VC4 isolated) and Paecilomyces lilacinus (PL1) on Taenia saginata eggs was compared in an experimental trial. T. saginata eggs were fixed onto Petri dishes containing 2% water-agar (2% WA) and fungal isolates, and onto Petri dishes without fungus as control. The ovicidal activity of these fungi was evaluated after being incubated for 5, 10 and 15 days. From the beginning of the interaction to the end of the trial, both P. chlamydosporia (VC1 and VC4) and P. lilacinus (PL1) fungi demonstrated ovicidal activity (p<0,05) when compared to the control. However, after 15 days of incubation the P. lilacinus fungus showed higher ovicidal activity (effect of type 3) when compared to P. chlamydosporia. This study showed that both fungi P. chlamydosporia (VC1 and VC4) and P. lilacinus (PL1) are capable in killing eggs of T. saginata, therefore these fungi might be considered as potential candidates for biological control of this cestoda.