In the past, parasitic diseases of domesticated animals were taught under preventive medicine in the Department of Bacteriology. As science advanced and major bacterial and viral diseases were controlled to some extent, the importance of parasitic diseases began to be realized. The impact of clinical and subclinical parasitosis on the health, vitality, and production of the animals were appreciated, and a separate post and office of the parasitologist under the Director of Animal Husbandry, Maharashtra state, was created to survey, diagnose, and control the parasites and their diseases in the old Bombay state in 1945. With the increasing importance of control of parasitic diseases, it was necessary to introduce the subject to veterinary graduates, and a department of parasitology was later on established in the college. The then existing post of parasitologist of the Government of Bombay State was thus converted to the post of Professor of Parasitology. In addition, posts of lecturer and a Research Assistant were also created.

Post-graduation leading to the degree of M.V.Sc. in Parasitology of Bombay University started in 1960 and with that, the post of Assistant Professor was created. The Ph.D. by research was started in 1967. So far, 60 students have obtained M.V.Sc. degree, and 4 students were awarded Ph.D. degrees in parasitology from this department.

Dr. S.R. Rao, M.Sc., D.Sc., was the first professor who continued in the post from 1945 to 1968. Dr. L.S. Hiregouder, Dr. Bhatwadekar, and Dr. J.B. Katharia were close associates of Dr. Rao in the department during the period up to 1960. During this period, Dr. D.S. Jadhav, Dr. Mannari, Dr. Harpanhal, and Dr. Mokasdar worked for a brief period in the department. Dr. L.S. Hiregouder completed M.Sc. (Parasitology) during this period and went to the U.K. for higher studies. He made valuable contributions in the field of coccidian and arthropods of bats and domestic animals. He later occupied the post of Professor in veterinary colleges at Anand and then Bangalore, from where he retired a few years ago.

Dr. Bhatwadekar’s contributions are mainly in the field of bovine coccidia and Oesophagostomum spp. of cattle. He later became Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry, Gujarat state, and then retired. Dr. Kathuria joined R.V.C. but kept up his interest in parasitology. In subsequent years, Dr. N.S. Deodhar, Dr. V.G. Patil-kulkarni, and Dr. M.A. Ghafoor worked in different categories and contributed to the growth and glory of the department. Dr. Deodhar was professor till 1976, after which he became Dean of this college and is retired at present. His chief research contribution was on the bionomics of infective larvae of Mecistocirrus spp.

Dr. Ghafoor did his Ph.D. on Epidemiology of amphistome infection in bovines and contributed immensely in the development of the museum in the department. He subsequently joined the veterinary college at Parbhani and retired as Associate Dean of the college. The good work of these stalwarts was carried forward with the same zeal and enthusiasm by the subsequent Professors viz., Dr. S.M. Niphadkar and Dr. V.S. Narsapur.

Dr. Niphadkar worked on helminth parasites of rodents in Bombay and their zoonotic significance. He was a person with a great administrative mind and was instrumental in streamlining the departmental activities. Dr. Narsapur took over from Dr. Niphadkar in 1992 and continued the good work to the level of international recognition. His pioneering work on speciation and biology of oribatid mites and their role in the life-cycle of anoplocephaline tapeworms is referred and quoted in a number of national and international publications.

Dr. V.S. Deshpande became Professor of Parasitology after the retirement of Dr. Narsapur in 1996. He was instrumental in getting a research scheme on Immunodiagnosis of bladder worms in food animals from ICAR. After his retirement, the department was headed by Dr. M.L. Gatne, who worked on immunodiagnosis of hydatidosis in farm animals for his doctoral degree. Dr. Gatne and his team brought a number of agency schemes to the department and extended the diagnostic facilities to pet owners, farmers, veterinarians, and laboratory animal houses on a commercial scale that generated a lot of revenue. This step took the department on the path of self-sustenance. A laboratory of molecular parasitology was established in 2008 to keep up the pace with advances in veterinary parasitology. He was instrumental in collaborating with the University of Queensland, Australia, under which two research projects were completed.

After the retirement of Dr. Gatne, the department is headed by Dr. H.Y. Palampalle, who worked on acaricide resistance, small ruminant parasites, anthelmintic resistance, prevalence, and antigenic profiling of Cysticercus cellulosae in pigs. He guided three Ph.D. and nine M.V.Sc. students and is currently working as Professor of Parasitology and University Head, Department of Veterinary Parasitology.

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