AbstractThe fatty acid composition of the triglyceride and the total phospholipid fractions of ovine liverEchinococcus granulosus protoscolices was determined by gas chromatography and compared with that of the healthy and Echinococcus infected livers. The chain length of the major saturated fatty acids identified in both the host tissues and the parasite ranged from 12–22 carbons. Oleic and linoleic acids were the only detectable unsaturated fatty acids identified in protoscolices and the liver samples. Comparison of the amounts of the fatty acids from the three different sources mentioned above by analysis of variance and the contrast method of Scheffe, revealed a significant decrease in the level of oleic acid in triglyceride fraction of the infected livers compared with normals. Thinlayer chromatography of the polar lipid fraction of the protoscolices resulted in tentative identification of lysolecithin, sphingomyelin, lecithin, phosphatidyl inositol, sulfatides, cerebrosides, cephalins and cholesterol.