A gradual increase in mitochondrial cytochrome c release was observed after 1 h post-infection (p < 0.05), with significantly higher caspase-9 activation (p < 0.01) from 1 h and markedly enhanced caspase-3 (p < 0.05) activation from 3 h of infection as compared to the control group. Here, CASP3 is linked to infection.