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. 2017 Apr 5;11(4):e0005507. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005507

Fig 7. Quantification of tissue parasite loads in BALB/c mice orally infected with T. cruzi Dm28c-luc strain.

Fig 7

Male BALB/c mice were infected in the oral cavity (OI) with 1x106 trypomastigotes forms of T. cruzi expressing luciferase (Dm28c-luc). Organs and tissues were harvested for qPCR analysis to determine the parasite load (parasite equivalent/g) at 60 min, 7 and 21 dpi. The qPCR was performed in multiplex, targeting T. cruzi nuclear satellite DNA (Sat DNA) and IAC, as a quality control. (A) Parasite load in the nasal cavity (n: 60 min and 7dpi = 5; 21 dpi = 4), esophagus (n: 60 min = 4; 21 dpi = 3), stomach (n: 60 min and 7 dpi = 4; 21 dpi = 3), small intestine (n: 60 min = 5; 7 dpi = 3; 21 dpi = 4); large intestine (n: 60 min = 5; 7 and 21 dpi = 4) and mandibular lymph nodes (n: 60 min = 4; 7 and 21 dpi = 3). (B) Parasite load in the pituitary gland (n: 60 min and 7dpi = 5; 21 dpi = 4), brain (n: 60 min and 7 dpi = 5; 21 dpi = 4), heart (n: 60 min and 7dpi = 5; 21 dpi = 4), spleen (n: 60 min = 4; 7 and 21 dpi = 4) and liver (n: 60 min and 7 dpi = 5; 21 dpi = 4). Red dots: no parasite detection. Values present mean ± SEM. Kruskal-Wallis (Dunn’s post-test) was used for group kinetics. Statistical analysis was performed using Graph Pad Prism 5. * p < 0.05, **p < 0,01.