Diet regulates the metabolic state and functioning of the heart during acute infection.

<p>(<b>a</b>) mPET analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the mean value of the myocardial standard uptake value for the glucose analogue, ¹⁸F-FDG in the infected RD fed mice compared to HFD infected mice at d30pi (n = 5). Significant change is represented by black stars compared with uninfected RD mice. Significant difference between infected RD and infected HFD is represented by white stars. (p<0.005). (<b>b</b>) MRI analysis both at diastole and systole condition showed significantly decrease in the left ventricle internal diameter (LVID) and an increase in the wall thickening of the ventricles during acute infection (both in HFD and RD fed mice) compared with uninfected RD fed mice (arrow – right ventricle) (n = 5). However, the mice fed with HFD showed less abnormalities compared to RD fed mice during infection (n = 5). The right ventricle internal diameter measured was higher for the infected mice and no significant difference was observed between RD and HFD fed mice (<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003118#pntd-0003118-t003" target="_blank">Table 3</a>) (n = 5).