Fig 4.

Effect of sustained challenge with homologous parasites on the levels of subpatent parasitemia and cardiac pathology in chronically infected mice. Unchallenged chronically infected mice and chronically infected mice that were submitted to sustained challenge with homologous Sylvio X10/4 parasites were euthanized 1 to 2 months after the last challenge dose to evaluate (A) the subpatent parasitemia levels by culture of blood aliquots from individual mice in LIT medium and (B) the intensity of pericarditis, endocarditis, myocarditis, and global heart inflammation. Data represent the results determined with unchallenged (■) and challenged (□) chronically infected mice. *, P < 0.05 compared to unchallenged chronically infected mice.