In the quarters with persistent infection, TNF-α concentrations peaked later and remained elevated for longer than in the quarters with a transient infection, the mean maximal concentrations being 13.9 ng/mL (SE 4.9) at 30 h PC and 13.21 ng/mL (SE 8.1) at 12 h PC, respectively (Figure 5c). Here, TNF is linked to infection.