GFAP and infection: Spinal cord Western blot (Fig. 4b, c) and immunofluorescence (Fig. 4d–l) analysis at day 30 after L. amazonensis infection confirmed RT-qPCR data and demonstrated microglial activation in the infected group in comparison with control non-infected animals (p < 0.05, Iba-1, Fig. 4b–l), but contrary to what was evidenced for astrocytes (GFAP, Fig. 3g), microglial activation was detected almost exclusively in the gray matter area of the ipsilateral side of the infection in the spinal cord.