To determine the seroprevalence of Oesophagostomum columbianum antibodies in goats in Kashmnir, a study was conducted in Srinagar and Ganderbal Districts, located in central parts of Kashmir valley. ELISA was standardized and evaluated to detect goat Oesophagostomosis in experimental and clinical cases using somatic whole adult antigen of Oesophagostomum columbianum. Plate ELISA was standardized using 5µg/well antigen concentration with 1:100 and 1:1000 of sera and conjugate dilution. Indirect plate ELISA was able to demonstrate the antibody titer at different weeks post infection in experimental goats. A comparison of plate ELISA on suspected field sera and faecal sample examination by floatation method revealed that 68 (34.34%) samples were found to be positive using ELISA and twelve by faecal examination. The highest prevalence was found in lower age groups in both the seasons, with the increase in age, the infection level decreased. The prevalence was higher in wet season as compared to dry season. The results were stastically significant (P < 0.05). No sex predisposition was seen. Sensitivity and specificity of ELISA was 80.0%, and 21.42%, respectively. This test is therefore quite sensitive for clinical cases; an early diagnosis, however lacks specificity of faecal examination were 10.81% and 90.0%, respectively.

Paramphistomum is a member of the family paramhistomatidae which constitutes one of the most common and abundant groups of digenetic trematodes of domesticated livestock, especially in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The disease paramhistomiasis caused massive infection of the small intestines with immature paramphistomes, characterized by sporadic epizootic outbreaks of acute parasitic gastroenteritis with high morbidity and mortality ABSTRACT Sheep (Ovis aries) is infected with a variety of gastrointestinal helminths , of which notably Fasciola hepatica and Paramphistomum cervi are prominent and pathogen causing a lot of morbidity and mortality (Mukherjee and Chauhan, 1965). Immature stages of P. cervi are highly pathogenic (Horak 1971) but the routine parasitological diagnosis is difficult, under the circumstances immunological test applied to the present study, is aimed at investigating the relative immunodiagnostic reliability and sensitivity of the Ouchterlony gel diffusion test and ELISA in paramphistomiasis.Sheep blood was collected at the local abattoir naturally infected with Paramphistomum cervi. Using somatic antigen of whole worms derived from P.cervi was prepared by homogenisation, sonication and centrifugation at 10,000 r pm for 20 minutes at 4 o C. Rabbits were immunized with the antigen mixed with Freunds complete adjuvant (1:1 ratio) for raising hyperimmune sera. Blood was collected at regular intervals by puncturing ear vein of the rabbit. The naturally infected sheep sera were also collected from the slaughter houses. The Ouchterlony test and ELISA were found to be positive as early as 2-4 th weeks post-infection. By gel diffusion test, two precipitation bands were observed, and at 6 th -8 th weeks of post infection by ELISA. An indirect ELISA standardized for detection of anti-Paramphistomum antibodies using antigen concentration of 2µg / ml was used on coating buffer. Indirect ELISA revealed antibody titre as high as 1: 12,800 in rabbit sera where as in sheep sera 1: 6400.