The protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, has been linked to several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies and risk factors associated with seroprevalence in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This seroepidemiological study assessed 196 participants, divided into two groups. The study group consisted of 98 schizophrenic patients and was matched with 98 healthy blood donors. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding potential risk factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence. Results revealed a higher seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies in schizophrenic patients (69.39%, 68/98) when compared to healthy controls (51.02%, 50/98) (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.21-3.9; p = 0.01). Patients with schizophrenia who consumed raw or undercooked meat (80.65%, 25/31) (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.25-11.21, p = 0.02) and those with a lower educational level (77.59%, 45/58) (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.59-7.54, p = 0.002) presented increased T. gondii seropositivity rates versus their control counterparts. Our findings indicate a high T. gondii IgG seroprevalence in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to healthy blood donors. Factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were consumption of raw or uncooked meat and a lower educational attainment. This study provided the first data regarding the potential risk factors for toxoplasmosis in Romanian patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and may serve as a foundation for future research and the development of preventive strategies.

Infection with the coccidian parasite Toxoplasma gondii was associated with an increased risk of several mental disorders. We conducted a case-control study of 464 consecutive psychiatric patients and assessed the prevalence of IgG antibodies against T. gondii and the potential risk factors associated with infection. T. gondii-specific antibodies were determined using a chemiluminescence assay. A questionnaire was utilized to assess the potential correlation between risk factors and Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity. IgG antibodies were found in 325 (70.04%) of the patients. We observed a higher likelihood of positive IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in older individuals, patients residing in rural areas, and females. We also noted associations between Toxoplasma gondii infection and certain risk factors, like activities that involve contact with soil, low-income levels, and limited educational attainment. Our findings indicate a high prevalence of T. gondii infection among psychiatric patients from Western Romania and provide new information regarding the potential risk factors associated with T. gondii in this population group. This study may serve as a foundation for future research and the development of preventive strategies.

Trichinellosis, a serious and sometimes fatal human disease, is a consequence of consuming raw or improperly cooked meat containing the infective larvae of Trichinella spp. The aim of this observational cohort retrospective study is to compare the epidemiological, laboratory, clinical and therapeutic aspects of trichinellosis in children and adults from Western Romania. We investigated the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with trichinellosis and hospitalized between 17 January 2010 and 31 December 2020. One hundred thirty-three patients were identified according to the electronic databases of infectious disease hospitals, located in four counties from Western Romania. A total of 19 patients (14.28%) were children and 114 patients (85.71%) were adults. In children, the most frequent symptoms were digestive in 78.94%, followed by fever in 57.89%, eyelid or facial edema in 57.89% and myalgia in 52.63% of cases, while adults presented mainly myalgia in 87.71%, followed by fever in 77.19%, digestive symptoms in 68.42% and eyelid or facial edema in 66.66% of cases. The source of infection was pork meat products in the majority of patients (89.47%). Our results revealed a general declining trend in infection rates for both children and adults during the studied period. The vast majority of cases were severe and all required hospitalization. Education of the population along with public health strategies should be improved and maintained to fully prevent trichinellosis in Western Romania.

Trichinellosis is a public health problem and an economic issue in porcine animal production and food safety. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the current epidemiologic, laboratory, clinical and therapeutic aspects of human trichinellosis in Western Romania. We retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients hospitalized in infectious diseases hospitals from three counties in Western Romania, between January 1st, 2012 and December 31st, 2016. A total of 83 patients diagnosed with trichinellosis were included in the study. Pork meat was the food source of infection in 76 (91.6%) patients and wild boar meat in 4 (4.8%). Patients were aged between 2 and 78 years; 48 (57.8%) were males and 27 (32.5%) came from an urban area. The most frequent symptoms included myalgia in 66 (79.5%) patients, fever in 55 (66.3%), eyelid edema in 40 (48.2%) and asthenia in 35 (42.2%). Two patients died and the others had favorable outcome. Although the number of reported cases has decreased in the past years, trichinellosis remains an important public health problem in Western Romania. Educational programs for both swine breeders and consumers are imperative, and implementation of strict hygienic measures aimed to control infection transmission are strongly recommended.