Advances and Perspectives of the use of the entomopathogenic fungi beauveria bassiana and metarhizium anisopliae for the control of arthropod pests in poultry production

Abstract

Global poultry production is plagued by a wide variety of arthropods. The problems associated with their chemical control have led to an increasing search for control alternatives, and entomopathogenic fungi seem to be a promising strategy. Despite the large number of insects and mites considered as important pests in animal production, studies on the use of entomopathogenic fungi for their control are still scarce compared with agricultural pests, particularly in Brazil. This article reviews some damages and control aspects of the main arthropod pests that affect Brazilian poultry production, including house flies, lesser mealworms, and feather mites, by the use of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae. Studies published in the last 20 years were reviewed, and the main problems and limitations of that pest-control strategy are discussed.

Laboratory and Field Evaluation of a Cypermethrin-Based Insecticide for the Control of Alphitobius Diaperinus Panzer (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Its in-Vitro Effects on Beauveria Bassiana Bals. Vuill. (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae)

“…Although B. bassiana has been identified by several authors as a potential control agent for A. diaperinus (Crawford et al, 1998;Geden & Steinkraus, 2003;Oliveira et al, 2014), its efficiency under field conditions in Brazil was only recently shown (Alves et al in press). Therefore, there are no available studies evaluating the compatibility of this microbial agent with the chemical insecticides used to control insect populations in Brazilian poultry production systems.…”

“…This type of chemical control is often preventive (Oliveira et al, 2014) and it is performed during the short time interval between the removal of one flock of chickens and the introduction of another. Chemical control is the most cost-effective strategy for poultry producers in the short term.…”

“…(Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae) is an alternative strategy for the control of the lesser mealworm. This entomopathogenic fungus occurs naturally in poultry houses (Steinkraus et al, 1991;Alves et al, 2005) and presents great potential for pest control (Oliveira et al, 2014). Moreover, this fungus has been shown to be effective both under laboratory conditions (Alexandre et al, 2006;Rohde et al, 2006;Alves et al, 2008) and in field assays (Alves et al, in press).…”

Activity of Some Brazilian Isolates of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against the Poultry Red Mite Dermanyssus Gallinae De Geer (Acari: Dermanyssidae)

“…However, in Brazil, studies on alternative pest control are focused only in the in-vitro evaluation of plant extracts (Morrone et al, 2001;Soares, 2012;Oliveira et al, 2014). Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate for the first time the pathogenicity of Brazilian isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae against D. gallinae.…”

Effect of plant extracts and a disinfectant on biological parameters and pathogenicity of the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae)

“…Poultry house´s environment associated with the presence of the LMW, make aviaries an extremely favorable site for the presence and development of bacteria, which may be transmitted to humans through meat consumption and affect the meat commercialization and limit the exportation (Chernaki-Leffer et al, 2010;Oliveira et al, 2014).…”