Field evaluation of Duddingtonia flagrans IAH 1297 for the reduction of worm burden in grazing animals: Tracer studies in sheep.

The aim of these studies was to determine the reduction in pasture infectivity likely to be achieved by the supplementation of grazing sheep with BioWorma, a product containing the chlamydospores of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans strain IAH 1297. Four placebo-controlled trials were conducted between 2009 and 2013 in sheep in different climatic regions of New South Wales and Queensland, Australia and across several seasons. The effectiveness of BioWorma was assessed by total worm counts in tracer sheep placed in paddocks grazed by parasitised sheep which were fed a daily supplement with and without BioWorma under group-feeding conditions. Further proof of concept was obtained by assessing the worm burdens and weight gains of the parasitised sheep, as well as the number of anthelmintic ("salvage") treatments required when faecal egg counts exceeded a threshold level. Significant reductions ranging from 57 to 84% (P < 0.05) in worm burdens of the tracer sheep placed in the paddock grazed by BioWorma treated sheep were obtained in all four trials, compared to the Control group. In two of the studies the treatment effect was greater at the end of the trial, indicating that pasture infectivity in the Control paddocks had risen considerably. The main nematodes encountered were Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., and Teladorsagia spp. (including multi-resistant strains) and significant reductions were demonstrated for each of these species. Given the results of the four trials it can be concluded that supplementation of pastured sheep with BioWorma was effective in reducing the numbers of parasitic nematode larvae ingested by tracer sheep. It is considered that these levels of reduced pasture larvae would result in productivity increases in grazing sheep and reduce the requirement for intervention with anthelmintic chemicals. Therefore, use of BioWorma will provide an alternative means for control of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasites on pasture.