The present study was conducted for 1 year from March 2010 to February 2011 to identify gastrointestinal parasites of backyard chickens and to estimate its prevalence in and around Shimoga, a malnad region of Karnataka. A total of 250 gastro-intestinal tracts were collected from backyard chickens for the detection of gastrointestinal parasites. Among the 250 birds screened, 183 (73.2 %) were found positive for gastrointestinal parasites by gross examination of gastrointestinal tract. Out of 183 positive cases, 94 (51.36 %) were found positive for cestodes, includes 73 (77.6 %) Raillietina tetragona, 12 (12.8 %) Raillietina echinobothrida and 9 (9.6 %) Raillietina cesticillus. Whereas, 53 (28.96 %) were found harbouring nematode parasites includes 33 (62.3 %) had Ascaridia galli, 12 (22.6 %) had Heterakis gallinarum and 8 (15.1 %) had both A. galli and H. gallinarum infection. The remaining 36 (19.67 %) had mixed infections of both cestode and nematode parasites. The microscopic examination of the gut contents and faecal samples showed presence of coccidian oocysts and eggs of A. galli, H. gallinarum and Capillaria spp. respectively.

The present study was conducted to observe the prevalence of endo-parasites in wild carnivores maintained under captive state at Tyavarekoppa Tiger and Lion Safari unit near to Veterinary College, Shimoga. A total of 54 wild carnivores were included in the study and the fresh fecal samples were collected, examined on the same day by direct and sedimentation techniques for endo-parasitic eggs/ova in the laboratory. Out of 15 tigers samples screened, 12 were harboring mixed infections of Strongyle spp., Toxocara spp, oocysts of coccidia and Spirometra spp. ova/eggs. Among 21 leopards sample screened, only 11 fecal samples showed eggs of Toxocara spp. and three showed eggs/ova of Spirometra spp. Of the 12 lion fecal samples examined, only 3 harbored eggs Toxocara spp. and two showed mixed infections of Strongyle spp., Toxocara spp, oocysts of coccidia. Among six Jackals screened, three faecal samples found positive for Strongyle spp. and Toxocara spp. eggs/ova.

Cholangiolithiasis is a rare condition in animals wherein the choleliths are formed in the biliary tracts causing chronic inflammation. In the current study, choleliths which were firm and friable concretions of approximately 3-4 cm in diameter were found in the bile ducts of the liver of an adult cattle infected with Fasciola gigantica. Two such irregularly shaped concretions were encountered in the two biliary tracts leading to common bile duct in the liver. There were localized irregular saccular dilatation and numerous liver flukes in the bile ducts. Further, several small hard concretions of varying sizes were also present in the ducts. The histological investigation revealed chronic cholangitis with bile duct hyperplasia and cirrhosis. The co-existence of F. gigantica and choleliths indicated the physical pre-disposition for the formation of bile concretions in the bile duct which is not a common site for the occurrence of gall stones.

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