FIG 6.

Levels of cytokines in MEE. In the MEE samples, the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were higher in the COM group than in the control group. The differences in the concentration of IL-1β were statistically significant throughout the experiments. The TNF-α concentration was also significantly higher in the COM group at day 3, day 14, and 1 month (1 M) after inoculation. Similarly, the concentration of IL-10 and TGF-β in the MEE samples increased significantly in the COM group for up to 2 months (2 M) after inoculation. *, P < 0.05 compared to the control by Mann-Whitney test.