Parasitic enteritis in the free-ranging Common Myna Acridotheres tristis (Aves: Passeriformes: Sturnidae)

Two deceased adult Common Myna Acridotherestristispresented for post-mortem investigations revealed weak carcasses with pale mucus membranes. The small intestine was completely blocked by balled-up tapeworms, which wereconfirmed as Hymenolepiscantaniana. Grossly, the intestine showed severe, diffuse congestion and catarrhal enteritis. Histopathological examination of the intestine exhibited severe congestion, denuded epithelium with necrotic cells along with homogenous catarrhal exudates admixed with a few polymorphonuclear cells. This report puts into record a rare case ofHymenolepisspeciesincidence in Common Myna.