FIG 3.

Topical resiquimod treatment leads to organomegaly and reduction of parasite density in liver and spleen. (A) Mice were intravenously infected with L. infantum chagasi. After 4 days, vehicle gel or resiquimod (0.2%) was applied to the shaved dorsal areas of mice three times a week for 4 weeks. Mice were euthanized 28 days after infection, and the parasite burdens in the liver and spleen were measured by qPCR. Parasite loads are expressed in relative PCR units as either parasites per cell or parasites per organ (n = 8 to 10 mice per group). The results are representative of two independent experiments. Error bars denote the SEM; *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.005. (B) Livers, spleens, and lymph nodes from uninfected mice that were treated with resiquimod (0.2% gel, or vehicle gel) for 4 weeks were harvested and weighed. Displayed are representative livers (top), spleens (middle), and a pair of lymph nodes (bottom) from each group. Average weights were calculated from n = 8 animals per group.