Figure 2.

Serum cytokine levels during oral acute T. cruzi infection. Male BALB/c mice were infected with 5 × 10⁴ insect-derived metacyclic forms of T. cruzi within the oral cavity. In the course of the acute infection, serum was isolated and levels of TNF (A), IFN-γ (B), and IL-6 (C) were quantified in non-infected (NI) and infected mice by the CBA method. Values represent the median with interquartile range for each group/day post-infection and are representative of two independent experiments. Results were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis with Dunn's multiple comparisons test (*0.0001< p < 0.05, #p < 0.0001). Significant differences not displayed in the graph: TNF: 3, 7 dpi ≠ 21, 24 dpi; IFN-γ: 3, 7 dpi ≠ 14, 21, 24 dpi; IL-6: 3 dpi ≠ 14 dpi e 7 dpi ≠ 14, 21 dpi. n: NI = 16; 3 e 28 dpi = 9; 7, 14 e 21 dpi = 14; 24 dpi = 15. n: NI = 16; 3 and 28 dpi = 9; 7, 14, and 21 dpi = 14; 24 dpi = 15.