Hepatic Granulomatous Inflammation and Angiogenesis Upregulation Provoked by Acanthamoeba polyphaga Infection and Role of Quercetin-Conjugated Silver Nanoparticles.

Disseminated acanthamoebiasis is a rare but severe opportunistic infection that can involve multiple organs, including the liver, causing fatal outcomes. This study provides new insights into hepatic pathogenesis and possible relationship with angiogenesis activity and the therapeutic role of quercetin conjugated silver nanoparticles (Q-AgNPs). Sixty BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: uninfected control, uninfected treated with Q-AgNPs, infected group and infected treated with Q-AgNPs. The Q-AgNPs were synthesised and characterised by spectrophotometry, electron microscope, zeta potential and dynamic light scattering. Hepatic tissues were examined histopathologically for granulomas (classified as caseating/non-caseating and immature/mature) and vascular changes. Hypoglycaemia and expression of angiogenic markers (CD31, CD34 and MMP9) were assessed. Acanthamoeba polyphaga infection induced significant hepatic granulomatous inflammation, hypoglycaemia, vascular remodelling and upregulation of CD31, CD34 and MMP9, indicating active angiogenesis. Granulomas exhibited necrotic cores in some cases and progressed from immature to mature stages. Q-AgNPs treatment markedly attenuated granuloma numbers, suppressing angiogenic marker expression, mitigating inflammation, capillary permeability and liver lesions. This study provides novel evidence linking Acanthamoeba infection to hepatic granuloma formation and angiogenesis-driven pathology which may serve as useful biomarkers for extracerebral acanthamoebiasis. Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and host-parasite interaction.