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1. Conventional (CV) and gnotobiotic (GN) female CFW mice were infected with the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. 2. After infection, both CV and GN groups received injections of iron-dextran or desferrioxamine. Non-injected mice served as controls. 3. The parasitemia was more intense in iron-dextran-treated mice. 4. The iron levels in serum, liver, and spleen were: (a) not decreased by desferrioxamine and (b) increased by iron-dextran treatments. 5. An increase in leukocyte numbers was observed in all GN and CV groups after infection. 6. There was no difference in total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and iron saturation transferrin (IST) between GN and CV mice before infection. 7. In CV groups, after infection, TIBC was decreased whereas the levels of IST were increased; in GN the opposite occurred. 8. Trypanosome-specific IgG and IgM antibody levels were raised in the GN group but not in the CV group.

1. Six groups of 45-day-old, 23.0 +/- 1.7 g, female Balb/c mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 63, 252, 440, 630, 2520 or 6300 I.U. of vitamin D for 6 days. A seventh group was inoculated with saline. Each group consisted of 30 animals. 2. All animals inoculated with the doses of 2520 and 6300 and 70% of mice which received 630 I.U. of vitamin D died 21 days after the first administration of the vitamin. The LD50 was 630 I.U. 3. The survivors were divided into two groups inoculated intraperitoneally with 5000 trypomastigotes of either Y or CL strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. 4. Based on the survival index on day 73 after infection, Vitamin D gave statistically significant protection (P < 0.01) for mice inoculated with doses of 63 or 430 I.U. of Y or CL strains, respectively. 5. On histopathological examination, inflammatory reaction and cellular and tissue parasitism were less intense in animals which received higher doses of vitamin D. 6. It is concluded that an overload of vitamin D had a protective effect against CL and Y strains of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Balb/c mice.