{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T11:14:44Z","timestamp":1785150884538,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,5]],"date-time":"2022-05-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1651708800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Microorganisms"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Toxoplasma gondii is estimated to infect 33% of blood donors worldwide, and seroprevalence varies widely between countries. We aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii in blood donors from Western Romania. Methods: Serologic testing to demonstrate the presence of T. gondii antibodies was conducted in 1347 healthy blood donors. Risk factors for T. gondii infection were assessed through an epidemiological questionnaire. Results: The overall prevalence of T. gondii antibodies was 45.9%, with a significant age-associated increase (p &lt; 0.001) from 32.6% in age group 18\u201325 years to 67.6% in age group 56\u201363 years. T. gondii seroprevalence decreased with increasing level of education, from 64.3% in individuals who graduated from elementary\/middle school to 40.4% in those who graduated from University (p &lt; 0.001). The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age, level of education and having pets (cats and\/or dogs) were significantly associated with T. gondii infection. Conclusions: This study brings new and valuable data regarding the seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection in Romania. Our findings indicate a high prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in blood donors and may serve as a starting point for further epidemiological studies that should lead to implementation of prevention programs for toxoplasmosis.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms10050973","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,5]],"date-time":"2022-05-05T13:10:26Z","timestamp":1651756226000},"page":"973","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":29,"title":["Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Blood Donors from Western Romania"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1970-1934","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Alina","family":"Lupu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, 300310 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rodica","family":"Lighezan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Regional Blood Transfusion Center, 300737 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6235-9076","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Alexandra","family":"Paduraru","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Angela","family":"Dragomir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, 300310 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Radu","family":"Pavel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Discipline of Epidemiology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sebastian","family":"Grada","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5218-9026","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alin Gabriel","family":"Mihu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sorin","family":"Ursoniu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Functional Sciences, Center for Translational Research and Systems Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1094-3729","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tudor Rares","family":"Olariu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory, Municipal Clinical Emergency Teaching Hospital, 300254 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"264","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.05013-11","article-title":"Epidemiology of and diagnostic strategies for 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