Exposure To Common Parasite In Undercooked Meat Linked To Brain Cancer Risk: Study KEY POINTS The parasite is also found in undercooked meat Glioma can be fatal but it is still considered a rare cancer Can a parasite lead to brain cancer? The researchers of a new study found evidence that people with antibodies for a parasite commonly found in undercooked meat could be more likely to develop a fatal type of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a common parasite that can infect most warm-blooded species including humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) said. According to the researchers of a new study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, these parasites can also lead to the formation of cysts in the brain.