Vol. 9, Issue 4, Part F (2024)

Author(s): A Latchumikanthan, MK Vijayasarathi, M Venkatesan, M Saravanan, R Velusamy and A Meenakshisundaram

Abstract: A sheep and goat with history of showing soft, palpable subcutaneous cysts under the skin, presented to Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu, Thanjavur during April & June 2022, respectively. Parasitological examination of subcutaneous cysts revealed as belonging to Coenurus gaigeri cysts based on their morphological characters. The cyst wall contains macroscopic invaginated scolices with colourless fluid filled. Microscopic examination of scolex showed four round suckers and rostellum armed with a double circlet of typical taenid hooks. Molecular confirmation of Coenurus cyst was done using species specific primers in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which amplified ~400 bp amplicon. This study highlights the importance of small ruminants acting as intermediate hosts harbouring Coenurus cyst.