Immunohistochemical characterization of spontaneous amyloidosis in captive birds as AA-type, using monoclonal and polyclonal anti-AA antibodies against mammalian amyloid.

Spontaneous amyloid diagnosed by means of Congo red and polarization microscopy in 3 flamingos, 1 crowned crane, 1 red-breasted goose, and 1 common golden-eye was studied using immunohistochemical techniques. The avian amyloid cross-reacted with a number of monoclonal and polyclonal anti-AA antibodies directed against mammalian amyloid fibril proteins. This confirmed that both "secondary" and "idiopathic" avian amyloid is of the AA-type. The results demonstrate the possibility to successfully using cross-reactive anti-AA antibodies for the diagnosis of non-mammalian amyloidosis.