Field Efficacy of Metarhizium robertsii (LCM S15) for Controlling Free-Living Stages of Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Goats

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Abstract
The rise in anthelmintic resistance in small ruminants has driven the search for sustainable control alternatives. Among these, entomopathogenic fungi such as Metarhizium robertsii stand out for their potential to reduce the free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). This study evaluated the field efficacy of M. robertsii (LCM S15) under climatic conditions in the Recôncavo region of Bahia, Brazil. The experiment was conducted between November 2022 and July 2023 in a completely randomized design with four groups (n = 8): aqueous control, oil control, aqueous suspension, and oil formulation of M. robertsii. Egg counts per gram of feces (EPG) and L3 larval recovery were assessed by coproculture and the Baermann technique. Efficacy ranged from 15.23% to 27.34%, with the oil formulation showing higher performance. Haemonchus sp. and Trichostrongylus sp. were the most prevalent genera. These findings suggest the potential of M. robertsii (LCM S15) as a biological control agent under field conditions.
Funding Information
  • Santa Cruz State University (PROPP/UESC 073.0886.2022. 0034488-66)
  • CNPq/INCT Innovative Bioinputs (#406803/2022-6)
  • National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) of Brazil (#420413/2023-5)
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

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