[Eight years of amyloid research in chickens: a review]

The articular localisation of amyloid is not uncommon in Galliformes. In commercial brown layer chickens amyloid artropathy was first described in 1994 as a clinical problem with increasing importance associated with growth depression and lameness. Considering the clinical veterinary and the scientific relevance of amyloid artropathy, it was a subject of poultry research during the past eight years. The outcome of the various studies performed is described in the present update. The occurrence, nature, pathogenesis and possible etiological factors of chicken amyloid artropathy, the identification and characterization of the chicken joint amyloid protein and the gene involved are reported. Finally, the results of immunological studies, which provide a plausible explanation for the difference in breed susceptibility, and summarising conclusions are presented.