{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,24]],"date-time":"2026-01-24T19:42:45Z","timestamp":1769283765497,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":58,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,23]],"date-time":"2026-01-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769126400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a complex of spirochetes that includes the main pathogenic species B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, and B. garinii, the causative agents of Lyme disease. Our aim was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies and assess associated risk factors among blood donors from Western Romania. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1347 consecutive donors at the Regional Blood Transfusion Center in Timisoara, Western Romania, between November and December 2018. Participants completed an epidemiological questionnaire and serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies against B. burgdorferi sensu lato using the VIDAS\u00ae Lyme IgG assay. The overall seroprevalence was 2.08% (28\/1347). Individuals aged 46\u201355 years had the highest prevalence (3.79%) and a more than fivefold increased risk compared to those aged 18\u201325 years (aOR = 4.77; 95% CI: 1.24\u201318.27; p = 0.023). Soil exposure was also independently associated with higher seropositivity (aOR = 2.37; 95% CI: 1.10\u20135.09; p = 0.027). Other factors, including residence, gender, and pet ownership, showed no significant associations. Our findings provide new epidemiological data for Romania and emphasize the importance of environmental exposures in shaping Borrelia seroprevalence.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens15020125","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,23]],"date-time":"2026-01-23T09:16:59Z","timestamp":1769159819000},"page":"125","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Prevalence and Risk Factors of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato IgG Antibodies Among Blood Donors in Western Romania"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5218-9026","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alin Gabriel","family":"Mihu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Aurel Ardelean Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 310414 Arad, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Biology and Life Science, Faculty of Medicine, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 310025 Arad, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maria Daniela","family":"Mot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 310414 Arad, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Daniela Adriana","family":"Oatis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Biology and Life Science, Faculty of Medicine, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 310025 Arad, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sergiu Adrian","family":"Sprintar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Aurel Ardelean Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 310414 Arad, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Liana Maria","family":"Chicea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department II Medical Clinic, \u201cVictor Papilian\u201d Faculty of Medicine, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550024 Sibiu, Romania"},{"name":"Internal Medicine Department, Academic Emergency Hospital, 550245 Sibiu, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rodica","family":"Lighezan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Regional Blood Transfusion Center, 300737 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6235-9076","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Alexandra","family":"Ardelean","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory, Municipal Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300254 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maria Alina","family":"Lupu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, 300310 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1094-3729","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tudor Rares","family":"Olariu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory, Municipal Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300254 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-025-06809-9","article-title":"Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) in Ixodes 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