We found hypertrophic cell bodies, fewer branches and increased circularity and solidity index of Iba1+ cells post infection, indicating the activation of microglia.60 Correspondingly, we showed that the infection significantly elevated the mRNA expression of Il-6, Il-1β, Tnf-α, Cxcl-1 and Cxcl-10 in the amygdala of mice. Here, TNF is linked to infection.