Trypanosoma cruzi: Correlation of muscle lesions with contractile properties in the acute phase of experimental infection in mice (Mus musculus)

► Acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection results in parasitism and damage of skeletal muscles. ► Contractility of skeletal muscles is impaired during acute T. cruzi infection. ► Parasitism, inflammatory infiltrates, and fibrosis affect muscle contractility. ► Impairment of contractile properties depends on the percentage of damaged tissue.