*3.2. Induction of Experimental Chronic T. cruzi Infection in Wistar Rats*

Successful induction of infection was verified by the presence of circulating parasites as observed by microscopic analysis, between 8 d.a.i. and 40 d.a.i. The levels of parasitemia between the groups of infected animals did not exhibit significant differences during the follow-up period (*p* < 0.05). Likewise, the onset and end of parasitemia demonstrated similar behavior between groups. The establishment of CCC was corroborated at 67 d.a.i. by the presence of echocardiographic characteristics of dilated cardiomyopathy (during the second ultrasound analysis) in infected animals. These cardiac imaging results were compared with the baseline established for the animals prior to infection (first ultrasound

analysis). Thus, this period (67 d.a.i,) was defined as the onset of chronic disease, and therefore as the start date for administration of the oral treatment schemes.
