Hypothyroidism impairs the host immune response during the acute phase of Chagas disease

•We have investigated the influence of hypothyroidism in the course of acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection.•Infected rats have higher IFN-γ and IL-17A levels compared with non-infected controls.•B cells and the ability of antigenic presentation of macrophages are negatively correlated with hypothyroidism in the chagasic infection.•Infected hypothyroid animals have higher thymic cell death compared with infected non-hypothyroid controls.•Hypothyroidism impairs the host immune response during the acute phase of Chagas disease.