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              Research
              
              
                              
                              5.  
                              
                              Fungal spread and faecal decomposition as 
                              indicators to evaluate short term environmental 
                              impact of egg parasitic fungi, Paecilomyces 
                              lilacinus and Verticillium chlamydosporium -
                              R. K. Singh, P. K. Sanyal
                              Vet World. 2011; 4(4): 168-170
               
              
              
              doi: 
              10.5455/vetworld.2011.168-170
              
              
               
              
              
              
   
 
              
               
               
               
              
              
              Abstract
              
                            
                              
                              Experiments were conducted to understand the 
                              extent of spread of Paecilomyces lilacinus and 
                              Verticillium chlamydosporium once deposited in 
                              faeces and alteration, if any, of the organic 
                              content of faeces by them, which could serve as 
                              evidences of their short-term environmental 
                              impact. Coproculture of the central part and two 
                              concentric rings of both the fungus contaminated 
                              plots were undertaken twice a week for four weeks 
                              in laboratory for the presence of P. lilacinus and 
                              V. chlamydosporium. Subcultures were done until 
                              the confirmation of desired fungus occur. 
                              Paecilomyces lilacinus could not be reisolated 
                              from the central part and two concentric rings at 
                              any point of sampling period except from the 
                              faecal sample of the central part on day 0. 
                              Verticillium chlamydosporium could be re-isolated 
                              from the faeces deposited at the central part on 
                              day 0, 7 and 14 but never from 21st day of 
                              sampling onward. However, V. chlamydosporium could 
                              not be recovered from the faeces of two concentric 
                              rings at any point of sampling. Moisture contents 
                              decreased with corresponding increase in dry 
                              matter content of the faeces as the time 
                              progressed. Faeces mixed with P. lilacinus, V. 
                              chlamydosporium and no fungus controls behaved 
                              similarly in terms of moisture and dry matter 
                              contents. From 60th day of deposition onwards, ash 
                              contents of faeces mixed with P. lilacinus, V. 
                              chlamydosporium and no fungus controls showed 
                              increasing trend with the corresponding decreasing 
                              trends in organic matter contents. Keywords:
                              Paecilomyces lilacinus, Verticillium 
                              chlamydosporium, fungal spread, faecal 
                              decomposition, environmental impact