Jayraw, A. K.Deshpande, R. R.2017-10-122017-10-122012http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810033020Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular tissue dwelling protozoa which is prevalent worldwide in warm blooded animals including man. Human beings acquire infection through ingestion of sporulated oocysts and also through the ingestion of tissue cysts from uncooked or undercooked meat and meat products. Diagnosis in animals and human beings is only possible through serological or molecular techniques since cat is the only definitive host wherein coproscopy is used for detection of isosporon oocysts from its faeces. Owing to high prevalence and zoonotic risk, the survey was undertaken to assess the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in ruminants which were slaughtered for human consumption at Deonar Abattoir, Mumbai. Indirect ELISA with SAG 1 antigen was standardized for this purpose. The overall prevalence of toxoplasmosis in food animals irrespective of ruminant species included in the present study was found to be 35.5% with slightly higher rate in smaller ruminants (36-44%) as compared to large ruminants (30-32%). The prevalence rate noted in the present study was comparatively higher than some of the findings reported in recent past from India in general and Maharashtra in particular. The overall picture of seroprevalence in food animals highlights the zoonotic risk to the human populationennullThesis