Generalized AA-Amyloidosis in a Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)

Abstract

Generalized amyloidosis was found to be the cause of death in a female adult insectivorous pipistrelle bat ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus) after chronic wound inflammation. Large amounts of amyloid were detected in liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, intestine, lymphatic tissues, and endocrine and salivary glands. Congo red staining and green birefringence identified amyloid; the Congo red staining was sensitive to potassium permanganate oxidation. The amyloid was further classified immunohistochemically. The deposits reacted with two anti-human-AA-amyloid monoclonal antibodies in a peroxidase-antiperoxidase reaction, whereas no reaction was found with antibodies specific for other types of amyloid. Thus, the bat amyloid deposits were identified as generalized reactive AA-amyloidosis.