Infected animals taken together expressed significantly less IL-2 mRNA on every study day (SD 8: W = 85, P = 0.005; SD 15: W = 60, P < 0.001; SD 29: W = 76, P = 0.007), with significantly lower levels in trickle infected animals on SD 8, 15 (χ2 = 65.63, df = 8, P < 0.001) and 29 (χ2 = 65.63, df = 8, P = 0.021) and in groups with single infections on SD 15 (χ2 = 65.63, df = 8, P = 0.009), when compared to the uninfected group (Fig. 2). This evidence concerns the gene IL2 and infection.