Genetic characterization ofToxoplasma gondiistrains by random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

SUMMARYThe technique of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR has been used to detect DNA polymorphisms amongToxoplasma gondiistrains. Seven arbitrary oligonucleotides (10-mer) were used as primers to amplify total genomic DNAs and significant genetic heterogeneity was detected among 11T gondiistrains with different virulence for mice. The polymorphisms observed allowed relationship dendrograms ofT. gondiistrains to be constructed by PHYLIP and PAUP analyses. The genetic relationships of theT. gondiistrains generated by 2 analyses using completely different assumptions were similar. Both analyses revealed 2 groups ofT. gondiistrains, one formed by the 6 virulent strains and the other formed by the 5 avirulent strains. This suggests that the genus Toxoplasma may actually contain 2 groups, correlated with their virulence, which have probably evolved independently following their initial separation. Significant polymorphisms were also detected between 2 different laboratory stocks of theT. gondiiRH strain.