Health Risk Assessment of Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium species in Red Meat (Implications for Pregnant Women and Immunocompromised Individuals)

The examination looked for the prevalence in red meat samples-for slaughterhouses and retail meat centers in Shiraz and Kazerun counties, Fars Province, Iran- of two important zoonotic parasites: Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium spp. In total 25 samples of fresh meat were taken from five locations and analyzed by single-step polymerase chain reaction. This revealed that 36% of samples were contaminated by at least one of the two parasites: T. gondii in 24% of samples and 12% for Cryptosporidium spp. One sample was confirmed to be positive for both parasites. Infections were more prevalent in rural and semi- industrial settings. As such, these results demonstrate a potential public health threat posed by contaminated red meat, especially in at-risk populations like pregnant women or immunocompromised patients. Hence, the study argues for urgent implementation of routine molecular surveillance, microbiological safety certification for meat products, and public awareness campaigns as prime strategies for managing zoonotic disease risk