Typing single-nucleotide polymorphisms in Toxoplasma gondii by allele-specific primer extension and microarray detection.

Genotyping is an important tool for epidemiological and population genetic studies in protozoan parasites. The most commonly used method for genotyping is polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, PCR-RFLP analysis is labor intensive, and only a proportion of the SNPs are recognized by currently available restriction enzymes. Here, we have developed a more efficient microarray-based method to genotype SNPs in the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This method is sensitive, accurate, and capable of analyzing multiple SNPs simultaneously in a high-throughput format.