Fig 11. Histological observation of AK induced in Wister rats by intrastromal injection of amoebal trophozoites.

Five μm thick corneal section of the uninfected left eye stained with HE exhibited well–defined epithelium and stroma without any infiltration of inflammatory cells (A), but a portion of endothelium was fell off during micro–sectioning in the cryostat. Corneas infected by Acanthamoeba alone (group A) showed a few areas of necrosis and blood cells with the epithelium and endothelium slightly disorganized (B). In group B, the stromal region infected by Acanthamoeba with intracellular bacteria exhibited haemorrhagic necrosis with fibrin deposition, desquamated cells, inflammatory infiltrate, and a collapse of the corneal epithelium and stromal structure (C). Indicators: White arrow, corneal epithelium, and endothelium; Yellow arrow: RBCs; Asterisk (*): Necrosis; Hash (#): Haemorrhagic necrosis; and Arrowhead: Inflammatory infiltrate. Scale bar represents 30μm for A, 20μm for B and C.