Fatal pulmonary aspergillosis and AA type amyloid accumulations in the liver and spleen are described in a female ostrich (Struthio camelus). The animal had had respiratory problems and long-term inappetence over an 8-week period. Necropsy revealed that several soft, grayish to white nodules ranging from 1 to 3 mm in diameter were scattered throughout the lungs and thoracic air sacs. Prominent ...

background:the bacterial contamination of fertile eggs isthe most common cause of embryonic death in ostrich hatcheryunits leading to financial loss in ostrich industry. objectives:the aim of this research was to investigate the bacterialcontamination status, with emphasis on escherichia coli, ofostrich hatcheries and the antimicrobial resistance profile ofisolated escherichia coli. methods:ato...

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral zoonosis, which is usually transmitted via tick bites or close contact with infected blood or tissue. This disease can cause a case fatality rate of up to 25%-30% in humans. CCHF Infection in birds is less documented. An ostrich can reproduce viruses and can also play the role of a mechanical vector, by transporting infected ticks without becomi...

The Sauropoda were the largest terrestrial animals ever to have lived on this planet. As their nutritional requirements were so huge, their diet holds sway over the ecology of many Mesozoic herbivores. The diet of the sauropods is limited by their feeding envelope, which in turn is governed by the posture and flexibility of their elongate necks. Yet the exact nature of the flexibility and postu...

In ostrich farming, gastric diseases are usual causes of increased mortality and economic losses. Infectious and non-infectious pathogens can damage the gastrointestinal tract, affecting the digestive process. Gastric impaction may be characterized by anorexia, cachexia, dehydration, apathy, decubitus, and dry and reduced feces. Chronic anorexia result in progressive loss on the reproductive pe...

A digestibility study was conducted with 3, 6, 10, 17 week old and 30 month old ostriches. Metabolizable energy (ME) values and fat and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibilities were determined. The formulated ME of the diet (chicken ME basis) was 1983 kcal/kg. The determined values with ostriches were: 3 weeks, 1731; 6 weeks, 2337; 10 weeks,2684; 17 weeks, 2739; and 30 months, 2801 kcal/kg...

Commercial ostrich farming is constrained by the absence of a formal animal recording and evaluation scheme as well as by current farming practices. Artificial insemination may have an important role in overcoming these limitations, but requires a thorough knowledge of sperm morphology. Although the morphological characteristics of normal ostrich sperm have been documented, little information i...

Owing to their cursorial background, ostriches (Struthio camelus) walk and run with high metabolic economy, can reach very fast running speeds and quickly execute cutting manoeuvres. These capabilities are believed to be a result of their ability to coordinate muscles to take advantage of specialized passive limb structures. This study aimed to infer the functional roles of ostrich pelvic limb ...

The organic component of the avian eggshell can be divided into 3 portions, the shell membranes, the matrix and the cuticle. These have been well characterised in the chicken but little has been published with regard to the ostrich (Struthio camelus). A number of recent studies have indicated that the cause of intra-shell embryonic deaths in the ostrich is similar to intra-shell embryonic death...