Role of TNF in sickness behavior and allodynia during the acute phase of Chagas' disease

- Chagasic outbreaks by oral infections have been associated with wild virulent strains.
- Abdominal pain in chagas is associated with inflammation and high parasitemia levels.
- We used a parasite isolated from captured P. geniculatus in a venezuelan rural village.
- TNF alpha blocking treatment ameliorates sickness behavior and allodynia in infection.
- Etanrecept treatment delayed the mortality without any effect on parasitemia rates.