FREQUENCY OF PANCREATIC AMYLOID DEPOSITION IN CATS FROM SOUTH-EASTERNQUEENSLAND

Stereological procedures were used to estimate the amount of amyloid d eposition in the pancreatic islets of 83 cats from random sources in s outh-eastern Queensland. Most had only minor deposits of less than 20% of islet volume (median 9%), but deposits equal to more than 50% of t he islet volume were found in 10% of the cats. Amyloid deposition in p ancreatic islets was correlated with the age of the cat. Although simi lar observations have been made previously in cats from the USA, the f requency of amyloid deposition was higher in this population of cats f rom south-eastern Queensland.