OCCURRENCE OF Toxoplasma gondii IN GOATS IN AND AROUND THRISSUR

Toxoplasmosis is a neglected parasitic zoonotic disease prevalent throughout the globe. The present study was conducted with a total of 184 serum samples collected from goats in and around Thrissur district of Kerala. All serum samples were subjected to indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii specific antibodies.Details on age of the goats, history of bad obstetrics and grazing history were collected to assess its significance on the presence of antibodies. Of the 184 serum samples, 69 (37.5 %) samples had minimum titre of less than 30 S/P per cent, 39 (21.19 %) were weakly positive with 30 to 100 S/P per cent and 76 (41.30 %) were positive with more than 100 S/P per cent. A positive correlation was observed between the presence of T. gondii antibody with grazing, increase in age and bad obstetric history. The presence of T. gondii antibodies in goats is indicative of the widespread prevalence of the disease among the goat population in Thrissur and the potential risk of zoonosis