First Report on the Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Toxocara Infection in Blood Donors from Romania

Ardelean, Ana Alexandra; Lighezan, Rodica; Ursoniu, Sorin; Sprintar, Sergiu Adrian; Oatis, Daniela Adriana; Mihu, Alin Gabriel; Lupu, Maria Alina; Olariu, Tudor Rareș

doi:10.3390/pathogens14090857

Open AccessArticle

First Report on the Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Toxocara Infection in Blood Donors from Romania

by

Ana Alexandra Ardelean

^1,2,3,4

,

Rodica Lighezan

^1,2,3,5,

Sorin Ursoniu

^6,7

,

Sergiu Adrian Sprintar

^2,3,8,

Daniela Adriana Oatis

^2,8,

Alin Gabriel Mihu

^2,3,8,9,*

,

Maria Alina Lupu

^1,2,3,10,* and

Tudor Rareș Olariu

^1,2,3,4

¹

Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania

²

Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania

³

Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania

⁴

Clinical Laboratory, Municipal Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300254 Timisoara, Romania

⁵

Regional Blood Transfusion Center, 300737 Timisoara, Romania

⁶

Discipline of Public Health, Department of Functional Sciences, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300173 Timisoara, Romania

⁷

Center for Translational Research and Systems Medicine, Department III Functional Sciences, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300173 Timisoara, Romania

⁸

Aurel Ardelean Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 310414 Arad, Romania

⁹

Department of Biology and Life Science, Faculty of Medicine, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 310025 Arad, Romania

¹⁰

Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, 300310 Timisoara, Romania

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Pathogens 2025, 14(9), 857; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090857

Submission received: 25 July 2025 / Revised: 25 August 2025 / Accepted: 26 August 2025 / Published: 29 August 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates on Zoonotic Parasites)

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Abstract

Human toxocariasis is a neglected tropical disease with a potentially major impact on public health. Our aim was to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Toxocara seroprevalence in blood donors from Romania. Serum samples were obtained from 1347 Romanian blood donors and serologically tested for anti-Toxocara antibodies. An epidemiological questionnaire was used to determine the risk factors associated with Toxocara infection. The overall prevalence of Toxocara antibodies was 29.6%, with a significant age-associated increase (p < 0.001). A higher rate was observed in individuals from rural areas compared to urban areas (p = 0.002) and in males compared to females (p = 0.001). In univariate statistical analysis, seropositivity was significantly associated with household ownership (p < 0.001), contact with soil (p < 0.001), owning dogs (p < 0.001), cats (p = 0.003), and consumption of undercooked poultry (p = 0.002). In a stepwise multivariate logistic regression model, only a lower level of education, age, male gender, consumption of undercooked or raw poultry, and contact with soil were associated with higher Toxocara seroprevalence. Our findings suggest a significant prevalence of Toxocara infection in this region. The identified risk factors highlight the necessity of health education programs that focus on public awareness and promote preventive behaviors, especially among at-risk populations.

Keywords: epidemiology; zoonotic infections; toxocariasis; ELISA; cross-sectional study; immunoglobulin G

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MDPI and ACS Style

Ardelean, A.A.; Lighezan, R.; Ursoniu, S.; Sprintar, S.A.; Oatis, D.A.; Mihu, A.G.; Lupu, M.A.; Olariu, T.R. First Report on the Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Toxocara Infection in Blood Donors from Romania. Pathogens 2025, 14, 857. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090857

AMA Style

Ardelean AA, Lighezan R, Ursoniu S, Sprintar SA, Oatis DA, Mihu AG, Lupu MA, Olariu TR. First Report on the Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Toxocara Infection in Blood Donors from Romania. Pathogens. 2025; 14(9):857. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090857

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ardelean, Ana Alexandra, Rodica Lighezan, Sorin Ursoniu, Sergiu Adrian Sprintar, Daniela Adriana Oatis, Alin Gabriel Mihu, Maria Alina Lupu, and Tudor Rareș Olariu. 2025. "First Report on the Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Toxocara Infection in Blood Donors from Romania" Pathogens 14, no. 9: 857. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090857

APA Style

Ardelean, A. A., Lighezan, R., Ursoniu, S., Sprintar, S. A., Oatis, D. A., Mihu, A. G., Lupu, M. A., & Olariu, T. R. (2025). First Report on the Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Toxocara Infection in Blood Donors from Romania. Pathogens, 14(9), 857. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090857

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First Report on the Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Toxocara Infection in Blood Donors from Romania

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