<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> antigens are detected in the central nervous system inside astrocytes in the presence of IFNγ.

<p>(A) Immunohistochemical staining of CNS sections of acutely (42 dpi) <i>T. cruzi</i>-infected mice showing parasite antigens-bearing astrocytes (left panel) and parasite antigens-bearing astrocyte surrounded by IFNγ-expressing cells (right panel). Arrows indicate parasite antigens detected by immunohistochemical staining using polyclonal anti-<i>T. cruzi</i> antibody. (B) Frequency of <i>T. cruzi</i> antigens⁺ GFAP⁺ cells among <i>T. cruzi</i>⁺ areas in the CNS of acute (42 dpi) and chronically (90 dpi) infected mice. (C) Number of <i>T. cruzi</i> antigens⁺ GFAP⁺ cells per <i>T. cruzi</i>⁺ CNS section in acute and chronically infected mice. (D) IFNγ mRNA expression in the CNS of <i>T. cruzi</i>-infected C3H/He mice compared with noninfected (NI) controls. (E) Frequency of <i>T. cruzi</i> antigens⁺ GFAP⁺ cells associated with IFNγ⁺ cells in the CNS of acute and chronically infected mice. The experimental groups were composed of six infected mice and three NI sex- and age-matched control mice. *, <i>p</i> < 0.05, ***, <i>p</i> < 0.001.