Fig. 2

Relative weight of the liver of uninfected hamsters as a control group (C, n = 10 animals/time; white) and hamsters experimentally infected with L. infantum (PP75 or OP46 strain) by routes of inoculation: intradermal (ID, n = 10 animals/time; light gray), intraperitoneal (IP, n = 10 animals/time; dark gray), or intracardiac (IC, n = 10 animals/time; black) after 1, 3, 6, and 9 months of infection. The results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Significant differences (P < 0.05) between infection with the different routes of inoculation are represented by the connected lines (a). Macroscopic changes in the liver of uninfected hamsters as a control group (C; white) and in hamsters experimentally infected with L. infantum (PP75 or OP46) by the IC route of inoculation at 9 months of infection. The liver of control hamsters with a normal appearance; liver of hamsters infected with strains PP75 and OP46 appeared friable; changed color from red to pale yellowish brown (b). Correlation between parasite load and relative weight of the liver in hamsters experimentally infected with L. infantum (PP75 or OP46 strain) by routes of inoculation: intraperitoneal (IP; dark gray) or intracardiac (IC; black) after 1, 3, 6 and 9 months of infection. Spearman’s correlation index r and P-values are shown on the graphs; the connecting lines illustrate positive and negative correlation indices (c)