Background: Arthrobotrys species are nematophagous fungi that secrete extracellular nematocidal products (ECP). The individual and combined effects of ECP from Arthrobotrys oligospora (Ao) and A. musiformis (Am) growth in liquid media against Haemonchus contortus L3 (HcL3) were assessed. Methods: The isolation, morphological (MI) and molecular identification (Mol-I), assessment of nematocidal activity (NA) of fungal liquid culture filtrates (LCF) in two liquid media alone and in combination and the myco-compound profile identification (MCP) were performed. Results: The MI suggested that the fungi corresponded to the species Ao and Am. This result was confirmed by PCR analysis followed by sequencing, alignment and a phylogenetic analysis. Likewise, the highest Hc mortalities were 91.4% with individual LCF of Am and 86.2% with those of Ao at the highest concentration (100 mg/mL) in Czapek-Dox Broth. The combination of both LCF resulted in a similarly high larval mortality with no statistical differences in relation to individual activity (p > 0.05). The MCP showed the presence of alkaloids in both fungi. Coumarins, sterols and saponins were found only in Ao. Main conclusions: Both fungi produced ECP with a high NA that could be identified and assessed in future studies as potential natural anthelmintic compounds.

This is the first record of the fungus Flavocillium subprimulinum in Mexico. The isolate was taxonomically characterised and cultured in potato dextrose broth (PDB), Czapek–Dox broth (CzDoxB), and sweet potato dextrose broth (SPDB) to obtain its filtrates (FLCF). The nematocidal activity (NA) of three FLCF concentrations was assessed against Haemonchus contortus L3. Protease activity (PA) was assessed with SDS-PAGE, followed by a zymogram. The NA of the FLCF reached 94.43% in PDB and 95.82% in CzDoxB, respectively, at 100 mg/mL. Lower mortality (64%) was found in SPDB at 100 mg/mL. SDS-PAGE showed bands (in PBS) of ~25, ~40, and ~55 kDa. The zymogram showed protein bands (PBs) with PA in the media, including PBs of ~14, ~40, and ~55 kDa. This study establishes the basis for exploring the potential use of this fungus against H. contortus, which is considered the most pathogenic parasite affecting lambs.

The individual and combined effects of extracellular products (ECP) from Arthrobotrys oligospora (Ao) and A. musiformis (Am) growth in liquid media against Haemonchus contortus L3 (HcL3) were assessed. The following methodological steps were established: isolation, morphological (MI) and molecular identification (Mol-I), assessment of nematocidal activity (NA) of fungal liq-uid culture filtrates (LCF) produced in two liquid media alone and in combination and finally, the myco-compound profile identification (MCP). The MI of both isolates suggested that the fungi corresponded to the species Ao and Am. This result was confirmed by PCR analysis followed by sequencing, alignment and obtaining coverage and similarity with respect to isolates reported in the NCBI database. Likewise, the highest Hc mortalities were 91.4% with individual LCF of Am and 86.2% with those of Ao at the highest concentration (100 mg/mL) in Czapek-Dox Broth. The combination of both LCF resulted in a similarly high larval mortality with no statistical differ-ences in relation to individual activity (P>0.05). The MCP showed the presence of alkaloids in both fungi. Coumarins, triterpenes and saponins were found only in Ao. Both fungi produced ECP with a high NA that could be identified and assessed in future studies as potential natural an-thelmintic compounds.

During the isolation, identification, and assessment of nematode-trapping fungi (NTF) against nematodes, we discovered an unusual fungus in decaying wood from Morelos State, Mexico. This isolate exhibited some characteristics similar to those of the Arthrobotrys genus; however, we found that it did not match any previously reported species within this genus after conducting morphological and phylogenetic analyses using the ITS, TEF, and RPB2 regions. This new species displays conidiophores with two or three stems emerging from the same initial site and conidiophores with only a single stem and aerial thickened hyphae from which single conidiophores emerge, forming 3D adhesive nets. The conidia, which have one or two septa, range from obovoid to ellipsoidal, crowned by four to six conidia. This report provides evidence that this species has not been described before, and we hereby introduce it as a new species, naming it Arthrobotrys mendozadegivensis. This species displayed a predatory activity of 76.92%, and its liquid culture filtrates in Sweet Potato Dextrose Broth and Czapek–Dox Broth were effective in killing 40.90% and 34.91% of Haemonchus contortus larvae, respectively. This study provides information about a previously unreported species of nematophagous fungus, which is important for systematics and has potential biotechnological applications against nematodes that affect the livestock industry.

An active survey was performed by the Galician Vector Surveillance Network (ReGaViVec) to determine the distribution of questing tick species in the Autonomous Community of Galicia Galicia, north-western Spain. Monitoring of tick populations involved drag/flag sampling at 533 locations over a period of 5.5 years. The identification of tick species, sex, and stage was carried out according to morphological keys, and the results were analyzed considering three Köppen climate regions, i.e. Cfb (marine west coast climate), Csb (warm-summer Mediterranean climate), and Csa (hot-summer Mediterranean climate), season, environment (forest, rural, or urban), vegetation height (≤ 15 cm, 16–40 cm, and > 40 cm); and altitude (< 300 m, 301–500 m, 501–1000 m, and >1000 m). A total of 1378 ticks were collected at 260 locations: 62.92% in Csb, 24.38% in Cfb, and 12.70% in Csa. Of these, 2% were larvae, 45.2% were nymphs, and 52.8% were adults (58.3% females and 41.7% males). Six species were recorded, i.e. Ixodes ricinus (57.90%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) (26.05%), Dermacentor reticulatus (10.95%), Dermacentor marginatus (2.10%), Haemaphysalis sp. (2.61%), and Rhipicephalus bursa (0.36%). A seasonal pattern was recorded, with the relative abundance of I. ricinus and R. sanguineus (s.l.) peaking in spring-summer, and that of Dermacentor spp. and Haemaphysalis sp. peaking in autumn-winter. Significant differences were demonstrated in the species abundance distribution according to climate region, season, environment, and altitude. The highest tick abundance was recorded in summer, in rural areas, and at altitudes of < 300 m. Because most of the tick species present in the environment of Galicia have vectorial competence for emerging tick-borne pathogens, it is important to maintain research and coordination of tick surveillance practices in the region.