A PCR method to detect the mouse major histocompatibility complex H2-L^d gene that confers resistance to Toxoplasma...

In laboratory mice, the H2-L^d gene confers resistance to encephalitis upon infection with Toxoplasma gondii, a foodborne parasite capable of infecting all endotherm animals tested. H2-L^d is carried by inbred strains with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes H-2^a (e.g., A/J) and H-2^d (e.g., BALB/c), but not by those with haplotypes H-2^b (e.g., C57BL/6) and H-2^k (e.g., C3H/He). As H2-L^d is typically detected by serological typing of ex vivo spleen samples, testing is usually terminal. Here we present a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method to reliably detect the H2-L^d gene in ear biopsies from live mice, thus allowing researchers to ascertain the H2-L^d genotype for breeding or other in vivo procedures.