High-resolution typing of Toxoplasma gondii using microsatellite loci

J Parasitol. 2001 Dec;87(6):1472-5. doi: 10.1645/0022-3395(2001)087[1472:HRTOTG]2.0.CO;2.

Abstract

High-resolution typing of Toxoplasma gondii is essential to understand the effect of genetic differences among strains on the variation in disease manifestation and transmission patterns. Current typing methods discern 3 lineages with minimal within-lineage variation. Described here are 6 new variable loci. These loci, including a minisatellite and 5 microsatellites, were more polymorphic than allozymes, restriction fragment length polymorphisms, and sequence variation in introns. Most importantly, these loci revealed, for the first time, substantial within-lineage variation that was over 6-fold higher than that detected by other markers. Genotyping at these loci facilitates classification of isolates beyond the lineage level.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics*
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genotype
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Toxoplasma / classification*
  • Toxoplasma / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Protozoan