Histological Changes in the Kidneys and Heart in Experimental Acanthamoebiasis in Immunocompetent and Immunosuppressed Hosts

Abstract

The course of Acanthamoeba spp. infection depends on the age and immune status of the host, and the virulence of the Acanthamoeba spp. strain. Some strains of free-living amoebae exhibit organ specificity, during the course of infection, while others may cause changes in many organs or completely lose pathogenicity. The aim of the current study was to investigate the pathological properties of Acanthamoeba spp. isolated from a patient with acute myeloid leukemia and atypical pneumonia (AM22). Moreover, the objective was to investigate the histopathological changes in the kidneys and heart of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice infected with Acanthamoeba spp. Amoebae were re-isolated from both the kidneys and hearts of the inoculated mice, although no cysts or trophozoites of the amoebae were detected in microscopic slides of the fragments of these organs. Acanthamoeba spp. induced changes in the kidney and heart weight of infected mice. In immunocompetent and immunosuppressed Acanthamoeba spp. infected mice, we found some histopathological changes, including areas with less acidic cytoplasm and a relaxation of muscle fibers. In further studies, it is important to analyze changes in gene and protein expressions in the heart and kidneys of hosts with disseminated acanthamoebiasis to better understand the course of infection in these organs, because the results of histological analysis varied depending on the immune status and duration of infection.