Lipid synthesis is an important process in most organisms as well as in helminths. The present observation shows the variation of lipid and fatty acid uptake among cestode, Raillietina (Fuhrmannetta) echinobothrida; nematode, Ascaridia galli and their host, Gallus domesticus, the common country fowl. Total lipid (TL), neutral lipid (NL), glycolipid (GL), phospholipid (PL) and their fatty acid of cestode, nematode and liver and intestinal fluid of the host were analyzed by thin layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography respectively. The result shows that liver take more TL, PL and GL except NL. Utilization of lipid from intestinal fluid when compare between the parasites, it is found that TL and PL content of cestode are higher than nematode, whereas, nematode absorbs more NL and GL than cestode. The percent of cholesterol is more in cestode than nematode. Palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic are the predominant fatty acids among all the samples. The present study reveals that the cestode having large surface area is more opportunistic in the resource utilization over the nematode as well as the host.

Adult tape worms take up small molecules through their tegument and are therefore largely dependent on their host's ability to break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Cestodes have lost their capacity for de novo synthesis of lipids and have become entirely dependent on their host. It is reported that the cestodes are able to absorb both short and long chain fatty acids through a mixture of diffusion and mediated transport. Cestodes do not use lipids normally as energy reserve; instead these are being utilized for reproduction. In an attempt to know the lipid composition of the fowl cestode, Raillietina (Fuhrmannetta) echinobothrida, major lipid classes and their fatty acid compositions of this parasite were analyzed by TLC and GLC respectively. Fatty acid methyl esters of total lipid, neutral lipid, phospholipid, and glycolipid were prepared by transmethylation. Eighteen fatty acids were identified from the parasite. The percent content of neutral lipid (64.39), glycolipid (15.7) and phospholipid (19.91) were recorded. Palmitic (C 16 ) and C 18 (stearic) acids were the chief components among the fatty acids.