Cerebral amyloid angiopathy in an aged great spotted woodpecker (Picoides major)

A male great spotted woodpecker (Picoides major), which was at least 16 yea rs old, died due to general weakening. Cerebral vascular walls, including c apillaries, were positively stained with Congo red with green-gold birefrin gence, and some of which showed a severe deposition of the Congophilic mate rials resulting in a corona-like fibrillar radiating structure. The Congoph ilic materials were positive for beta amyloid protein, but negative for pri on protein. Only a few senile plaque-like structures were observed in the c ortex by PAM stain and beta amyloid immunostain. The present case is the fi rst observation of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in avian species and will in dicate the presence of such age-related cerebral lesions also in birds. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.