The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies by ELISA and to determine the risk factors in students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Fırat University. A questionnaire was administered to the students who were to be included in the study, asking for their age at the time of the study, gender, raw meat consumption status, infrequent or moderate meat consumption frequency, and cat ownership history. As a result of the preliminary evaluation of the questionnaires, 90 students considered to be in the risk group were selected and blood samples were taken and analysed using a commercial ELISA kit.

Anti-T. gondii antibodies were serologically tested in the blood samples of 42 female and 48 male students, and seropositivity was detected in a total of 22 (24.4%) students, 11 (26.2%) of the female students and 11 (22.9%) of the male students. Of the 90 students who participated in the study, 29 (32%) reported eating raw or undercooked meat. Thirty-one (34%) of the students reported consuming unwashed vegetables or fruit and 34 (37%) reported drinking uncontrolled water of uncertain origin. Forty-nine (54%) of the participants (mainly 1st and 2nd year students) had no knowledge about the T. gondii. Again, 37 (41%) of the participating students did not know that the parasite causes abortion in pregnant women. Seventy-two (80%) of the students surveyed said they did not take any personal precautions against the agent.