Biological control of gastro-intestinal nematodes of ruminants using predacious fungi : proceedings of a workshop

Gastrointestinal nematode parasitism is one of the most important disease constraints to small ruminant production in the subtropics and tropics control of the gastrointestinal nematodes particularly Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus species is a prerequisite for profitable small ruminant production. Strategies for the control have up till now relied almost entirely on the use of anthelmintics. The frequent use, often combined with mismanagement of the drugs, have led to widespread resistance of the parasites to one or more of the major groups of anthelmintics. There is, therefore, an urgent need for developing alternative sustainable strategies. These include grazing management, breeding for resistanceresilience, better utilization of existing drugs through the understanding of the pharmacokinetics and the use of predacious fungi for biological control of the nematode parasite larvae on pasture. FAO in collaboration with the Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology and the Veterinary Research Institute in Ipoh, Malaysia organized a workshop on Biological Control of GastroIntestinal Nematodes of Ruminants Using Predacious Fungi held 5 12 October 1997 in Ipoh, Malaysia. Fourteen participants from 10 countries received theoretical and practical training in the isolation, identification and cultivation of predacious fungi enabling them to utilize biological control of parasitic nematodes of ruminants in the future.