Evaluation of the nematicidal and enzymatic activity of Pleurotus djamor on Trichostrongylus spp. and Strongyloides papillosus

Parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) cause diseases that are a major challenge to livestock production. Chemical control is the most widely used method, but it has many economic and environmental problems. This study was to evaluate in vitro the nematicidal and enzymatic activity of Pleurotus djamor against Trichostrongylus spp., and Strongyloides papillosus. The fungus was cultivated in a solid medium composed of wheat seeds for 25 days. The enzyme extraction was then performed using distilled water in the ratio of 1:5. Subsequently, by means of filtration and then centrifugation, the cell-free crude extract (CFCE) was obtained. Proteolytic activity was measured at pH 5 using the caseinolytic assay. The nematophagous assay of the P. djamor on the infective larvae (L3) was performed for 6 h. The nematicidal effect of the CFCE (active and denatured) was analysed over a period of 48 h. The CFCE showed proteolytic activity of 8.9 ± 0,5 U mL−1. P. djamor reduced the number of L3 by 75% (p < 0.01). The active CFCE showed a statistical difference compared to the control and the denatured (p < 0.01). On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the denatured group and the control group (without enzymes). The percentage reduction of L3 was 57%. This result suggests that the nematicidal action occurred mainly due to the activity of the proteases present in the CFCE. This study reports for the first time the applicability of proteases produced by P. djamor in the biochemical control of GINs, which could become an alternative biopesticide in the future.