Although it is possible that the dual roles of CD14 as a mediator of the pathogenesis of ECM and a positive regulator of parasite density operate independent of each other, our results suggest that CD14-mediated pathogenesis of ECM is directly dependent on the level of parasitemia; CD14-KO mice that were able to overcome resistance to ECM (n = 4) had a parasite burden similar to WT mice. Here, CD14 is linked to parasitic infectious disease.