Risk Factors Associated with Toxoplasma gondii in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases from Western Romania

Limited data are available in the existing literature regarding the seroepidemiology of infection among cardiovascular patients. We aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence of infection and associated risk factors among Romanian cardiovascular patients. Serologic testing was conducted in 1205 patients with cardiovascular diseases to demonstrate the presence of antibodies. An avidity test was performed in patients with detectable IgG and IgM antibodies. A structured questionnaire was designed to identify the potential risk factors associated with Results: The overall seroprevalence of antibodies was 52.1%, with the highest value observed in patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (66.66%) and the lowest in patients with myopericarditis (30.0%). The 11 patients found with detectable IgM and IgG antibodies had a high avidity test result. A patient's area of residence, gender, educational level, owning dogs, owning any pet, and toxoplasmosis awareness were significantly associated with seropositivity in multiple logistic regression analyses. This study provides novel and valuable insights into the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with among Romanian cardiovascular patients. Our findings reiterate the importance of toxoplasmosis awareness and health education for better control and prevention of infection with