**1. Introduction**

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease widely distributed throughout the world and is caused by the intracellular parasite *Toxoplasma gondii*. The definitive host of the parasite is the domestic cat and the entire cat family, in which the parasite reproduces sexually. *T. gondii* can also infect a wide range of intermediate hosts, affecting most warm-blooded animals [1].

In humans, toxoplasmosis is usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals, but can develop lymphadenopathy and nonspecific symptomatology or even be fatal in infants with congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) and in immunocompromised patients (such as people with AIDS), in persons with problems in bone marrow and recipient patients of transplanted organs) [2].

*Toxoplasmosis* transmission to humans is mainly through food and from exposure to different stages of *T. gondii,* particularly by ingestion of sporulated oocysts found in the environment and contaminated water and food, or by ingestion of tissue cysts or tachyzoites contained in meat and products derived from the meat of various animals, [1,3,4].

The consumption of undercooked, raw or cured meat is a major mode of transmission of *Toxoplasmosis* to humans, especially in cases of CT, which has been attributed to 30% to 60% of cases of infection during pregnancy [5]. This has led to various public health organizations worldwide monitoring programs introduced on *T. gondii* in animals intended for human consumption, mainly in meat samples [6].
