Surgical management of Coenurus gaigeri cyst in non-descriptive sheep herd in Karnataka

A herd of sheep was presented to a veterinary hospital at Nelamangala, Bangalore district, Karnataka with the history of swelling in thigh region of the right and left hind leg. Among them ten sheep in the herd on physical examination, revealed a large fluctuating fluid filled sac with distinct dimension. The exploratory puncture of the swelling revealed a colorless transparent fluid confirming it as a cyst. On surgical removal of the cyst it appeared as transparent sac like structure with rice grain like particles attached to the sac. Parasitological examination of the sac revealed it as a Coenurus gaigeri, the intermediate stage of T. multiceps gaigeri. The affected animals recovered completely by 15th postoperative day without any complications. One dead sheep among the herd, on post mortem revealed cyst in heart and thoracic abdominal muscles.