Singh, B. B.KATAM, SIVATEJA REDDY2019-10-172019-10-172018http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810131731Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite infecting all warm blooded animals including marine mammals and birds. The infection is asymptomatic in immunocompetent hosts but lead to severe signs of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised hosts and in pregnant animals. In our study we randomly selected 22 villages representing all the districts of Punjab. We had visited 247 households in which 1147 animals were present, out of which serum samples were collected from only 610 animals (378 cattle and 278 buffalo) from179 households for detection of antibodies against T. gondii. For molecular analysis 100 aborted fetal contents/placenta from aborted cattle were collected. In our study we reported an apparent seroprevalence of 12.7% (95 CI: 9.71%, 16.43%) in cattle and 9.91% (95% CI: 6.7%, 14.44%) in buffalo populations. At herd level, a seroprevalence of 31.84% (95% CI: 28.54%, 38.28%) and 30.52% (95% CI: 27.73%, 38.19%) was recorded in cattle and buffalo population respectively. In our PCR assay we detected that 4% of the aborted fetal contents/ placenta were shown to be positive for T. gondii. The detection of antibodies against T. gondii in bovine serum samples indicated the exposure to cattle and buffalo. Molecular positivity was significantly associated with the history of abortions in the third trimester and with the presence of cat(s) in the farm.ennullThesis