Search

Copyright of MESO is the property of Zadruzna Stampa D.D. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are typically isolated and cultured by successive passages using 9- to 11-day-old embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs) and in 14-day old ECEs for virus mutational studies. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests (RT-PCRs) are commonly used for IAV diagnosis, but virus isolation remains invaluable in terms of its high sensitivity, providing viable isolates for further studies and the ability to distinguish between viable and nonviable virus. Efforts at isolating ostrich-origin IAVs from RT-PCR positive specimens using ECEs have often been unsuccessful, raising the possibility of a species bottleneck, whereby ostrich-adapted IAVs may not readily infect and replicate in ECEs, yet the capacity of an ostrich embryo to support the replication of influenza viruses has not been previously demonstrated. This study describes an optimised method for H5 and H7 subtype IAV isolation and propagation in 28-day old embryonated ostrich eggs (EOEs), the biological equivalent of 14-day old ECEs. The viability of EOEs transported from breeding sites could be maximised by pre-incubating the eggs for 12 to 14 days prior to long-distance transportation. This method applied to studies for ostrich-adapted virus isolation and in ovo studies will enable better understanding of the virus-host interaction in ostriches and the emergence of potentially zoonotic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Avian influenza surveillance is a requirement for commercial trade in ostrich products, but influenza A viruses (IAVs) have proven difficult to isolate from ostrich tracheal swabs that test positive using molecular methods. We hypothesized that microbes unique to the ostrich trachea propagate in the transport medium after sampling and affect viral viability. We cultured tracheal swabs from 50 ostriches on 4 farms in South Africa, and recovered and identified 13 bacterial, 1 yeast, and 2 fungal species. Dietzia sp. had not been identified previously in the oropharyngeal tract of a bird, to our knowledge. The bacteria were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, and most aerobic species, except for Streptococcus sp. and Pseudomonas sp., were sensitive to enrofloxacin; all were susceptible to sulfonamide. Virus inhibition experiments determined that ostrich-source Streptococcus sp., Pantoea sp., and Citrobacter freundii produced extracellular metabolites that caused a substantial reduction in the IAV titers of 99.9%. Streptomyces, Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, Arthrobacter gandavensis, Pseudomonas putida, and Acinetobacter spp. similarly reduced the viability of IAV from 77.6% to 24.1%. Dietzia appeared to have no effect, but Rothia dentocariosa, Rhodotorula spp., and Clostridium spp. slightly increased the viability of IAV by 25.9, 34.9, and 58.5%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The husbandry and medical records, and necropsy reports, of 1,002 captive Struthioniformes that died at the Réserve Africaine de Sigean (France) from 1974 to 2015 were examined. The goal of this study was to determine the most common causes of mortality in ostriches (Struthio camelus), emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae), and American rheas (Rhea americana), in order to highlight common causes of mortality, as well as the influence of age, gender, and rearing methods on mortality. The most prevalent cause of mortality was pathology of digestive origin in the neonates of all three species, especially yolk-sac infections, which accounted for 41% of all deaths in this captive neonate population and was especially prevalent in hand-reared neonates. Other causes included musculoskeletal disorders in emus (particularly hand-reared) and rheas; trauma in neonate ostriches, mainly due to crushing by parents; leg deformities in emu chicks and juveniles; general sepsis in hand-reared ratite chicks due to a chlamydiosis outbreaks (1989–1990); trauma by conspecifics in subadult ostriches and emus; stress myopathy in subadult rheas, particularly after introduction to a new enclosure; evisceration inflicted by herbivorous enclosure mates on adult male ostriches; fatal peritonitis following salpingitis in adult female ostriches; and death associated with ocular disorder in adult male emus. Although this study was conducted at one institution, and its results reflect this zoo's management and zootechnical practices, its findings could well have implications for management practices involving other captive Struthioniforme populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Études Rurales is the property of Editions EHESS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira is the property of Colegio Brasileiro de Patologia Animal - CBPA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Avian Diseases is the property of American Association of Avian Pathologists, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In spite of number of methods for sex determination in birds, it is very difficult to distinguish sex especially in ratite birds due to lack of sexual dimorphism. Chromodomain helicase DNA binding 1 gene (CHD 1) is the choice of gene for gender differentiation using PCR based molecular method. In present study, non ratite CHD gene specific primers viz. 1237L/1272H, 2550F/2718R, P2/P8, P2/P3 and ratite bird specific primers viz.W5/ W7 and W1/ K7 were used for gender differentiation in ratite birds. The ratite bird specific primer W5AV7 was the only primer, which determined the sex in emu as well as ostrich successfully, while 1237L/1272H, 2550F/2718R, P2/ P8, P2/P3 primers were unable to discriminate sex in emu and ostrich but ratite and non ratite primers can be used to discriminate the sex in non-ratite bird, primarily in chicken. In an alternative approach of PCR-RFLP, the high resolution melting curve (HRM) analysis showed conflicting pattern in both sexes of ratite birds but in chicken HRM analysis showed clear cut differential melting temperature in both sexes, hence HRM can be used for gender differentiation successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of MESO is the property of Zadruzna Stampa D.D. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses a study which describes the pathological and microbiological findings in ostriches, Struthio camelus, with mycobacterioris due to infection with Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium complex. Information is provided on the methods used in the study. Results describe the histopathologic features of the tissue samples of lesions. The occurrence of avian tuberculosis and the implications of M. bovis in terms of zoonotic risk and transmission of infection are discussed.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to clarify the distribution and relative frequencies of somatostatin (SST)-producing cells in the stomach and the small intestine of the ostrich by using immunohistochemistry. The results indicated that somatostatin-immunoreactive (SST-IR) cells were distributed in mucosal layers of the proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. However, no immunoreactivity was observed in the gizzard. SST-IR cells were found at the lower part of glandular lobule in the proventriculus, which were oval and round generally. SST-IR cells were present in the mucous membrane of entire small intestine of the ostrich. SST-IR cells had round and spherical shapes (closed-type cells), or spindle and pyriform shapes (open-type cells) in the small intestine. SST-positive cells were localized preferentially in the proventriculus of the 60-day-old ostrich. These results indicated that SST might be involved in functional and developmental regulation of gastrointestinal tract of the ostrich. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1–3 families are involved in xenobiotic metabolism, and are expressed primarily in the liver. Ostriches (Struthio camelus) are members of Palaeognathae with the earliest divergence from other bird lineages. An understanding of genes coding for ostrich xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme contributes to knowledge regarding the xenobiotic metabolisms of other Palaeognathae birds. We investigated CYP1–3 genes expressed in female ostrich liver using a next-generation sequencer. We detected 10 CYP genes: CYP1A5, CYP2C23, CYP2C45, CYP2D49, CYP2G19, CYP2W2, CYP2AC1, CYP2AC2, CYP2AF1, and CYP3A37. We compared the gene expression levels of CYP1A5, CYP2C23, CYP2C45, CYP2D49, CYP2G19, CYP2AF1, and CYP3A37 in ostrich liver and determined that CYP2G19 exhibited the highest expression level. The mRNA expression level of CYP2G19 was approximately 2–10 times higher than those of other CYP genes. The other CYP genes displayed similar expression levels. Our results suggest that CYP2G19, which has not been a focus of previous bird studies, has an important role in ostrich xenobiotic metabolism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study which investigates the presence of orexin-A immunoreactivity in ostrich kidneys. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that orexin-A immunoreactivity was found in the tubules of the ostrich kidneys. It indicates that immunostaining was primarily localized in the apical border and lumen of kidney tubules.

The article discusses a research study on the importance of strategies of Newcastle disease vaccination (NDV) for commercial ostrich farms in Kanagawa, Japan. Data on the virus neutralization titers of the investigated ostriches is presented. The process for performing virus neutralization test for NDV is described. Obsevations on the transmission of NDV between birds that occurs through inhalation of droplets or ingestion of material are cited.

The article discusses a study which examined the prevalence, serotypes and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella (S.) spp isolated from retail chicken, turkey and ostrich by-products in Iran. It notes that the gastrointestinal illness caused by the Salmonella leads to substantial morbidity, hospitalization and economic burden. Findings revealed that contamination rates were higher for chickens and turkeys than for ostriches. In terms of the serotypes, S. enteritidis was the predominant type, followed by S. typhimurium and S. agona. The study also showed the susceptibility of all isolates to amoxicillin, gentamicin, kanamycin and cefotaxine.

The article discusses a study which examined the prevalence of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in slaughter-age ostriches after vaccination in Japan. Topics discussed include the number of ostriches that have been tested positive by virus neutralization (VN) test, possible infection of ostriches with low virulent NDV and infiltration of NDV into ostrich farms in Japan.

The article focuses on the outbreak of monensin poisoning in horses and ostriches found in farm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Research finds that three ostriches move reluctantly and have sternal permanent recumbency. It notes the gross changes in horses such as endocardial and epicardial hemorrhages, multifocal myocardial pallor, and bilateral yellowish white foci in skeletal muscles.

Due to the adaptability of ostrich at the climatic conditions in our country, different from the areas of origin, and the growing demand for ostrich meat, ostriches' breeding is currently one of the best investment opportunities in agriculture. For Romania is a profitable business to breed ostriches in the future, while the demand for ostrich meat currently is not satisfied. The research wants to emphasis the morph-productive characteristics in a population of ostriches from the farm "Agritech"-Lechinţa, Bistriţa-Năsăud County. There were slaughtered a total of five copies to follow the yield at slaughter and during summer and winter to follow metabolic profile in a number of 10 ostrich heads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a deceased 10-year-old male ostrich that was diagnosed with severe necrotizing enteritis and septicimia. Its diet, the owner claims, consisted of commercial pelleted ration for horses and alfalfa hay. Prior to its death, the ostrich exhibited inappatence for three weeks, regurgitation, and body tremors. Particular focus is given to organ changes detected through pathologic examination. Gram-negative bacteria was identified from each aerobic culture source.

The researches were realized on anatomical preparations derived from 6 specimens of Struthio camelus. The glenoid fossa formed by scapula and coracoid is very small relative to the size of the girdle and faces laterally. This joint has a thick and wide capsule. There are two main ligaments: dorsal scapulohumeral and dorsal coracohumeral, which appear like strong reinforcement only of the dorsal part of the capsule. The elbow joint have dorsal collateral, ventral collateral and cranial cubiti ligaments. In addition, ligament transversum radioulnare and proximal interoseus ligament joint the proximal extremity of radius and ulna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studies the macroscopic features of the venous drainage of the reproductive system of six pre-pubertal and three sexually mature and active ostrich. According to the authors, each testis was drained by one to four testicular veins, The right testicular veins drained the right testis and epididymis and its appendix to the caudal vena cava and to the right common iliac vein, whereas the left testicular veins drained the left testis and epididymis and its appendix exclusively to the left common iliac vein. The authors note the previous studies on the vascular system of the male reproductive tract in birds.

The article presents a survey of plasma and liver mineral concentrations and enzyme activities in ostriches under farmed conditions in New Zealand. Results showed that plasma concentrations were within the normal range observed in the literature for ratite species. It was observed that copper concentrations in plasma were lower but higher in liver. Although aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) are higher compared to those literature from South Africa, the author concludes that they were normal and were only a reflection of the high growth rates of the musculoskeletal system.

Summary: The pecten oculi is a structure peculiar to the avian eye. Three morphological types of pecten oculi are recognized: conical type, vaned type and pleated type. The pleated type has been well studied. However, there exists only scanty data on the morphology of the latter two types of pectens. The structure of the vaned type of pecten of the ostrich, Struthio camelus was investigated with light and electron microscope. The pecten of this species consists of a vertical primary lamella that arises from the optic disc and supports 16–19 laterally located secondary lamellae, which run from the base and confluence at the apex. Some of the secondary lamellae give rise to 2 or 3 tertiary lamellae. The lamellae provide a wide surface, which supports 2–3 layers of blood capillaries. Pigmentation is highest at the distal ends of the secondary and tertiary lamella where blood capillaries are concentrated and very scanty on the primary and the proximal ends of the secondary lamella where the presence of capillaries is much reduced. In contrast to the capillaries of the pleated pecten, the endothelium of the capillaries in the pecten of the ostrich exhibits very few microvilli. These observations suggest that the morphology of the pecten of the ostrich, a flightless ratite bird is unique to the pleated pecten and is designed to meet the balance between optimal vision and large surface area for blood supply and yet ensuring it is kept firmly erect within the vitreous. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study that examines the characteristics of the eggshell of ostrich in Brazil. It explores the method of the study that observes and analyzes 60 samples of normal eggs to identify the average thickness of the eggshell, their porosity, and correlation to hatchability. It details the result of the study which shows the average porosity of the hatched eggs. Furthermore, it also mentions the absence of statistical difference between the thickness of the shell in the region, as well as the interaction of their viability.

Summary: Clinically severe disease was produced in ostriches aged 4 weeks by oral infection with a virulent strain of infectious bursal disease virus (vIBDV), namely strain Faragher 52/70. Four days after infection the birds were humanely killed and tissue samples, including thymus, bursa of Fabricius (BF), brain and kidney were collected for examination. Histopathologically, the thymus and BF showed severe lymphoid depletion and necrosis, while immunolabelling with a polyclonal antibody demonstrated abundant viral antigen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Twelve Mycoplasma (M.) strains isolated from the nose, the trachea, and the lung of ostriches (Struthio camelus) displaying respiratory disease were investigated. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences placed five of these strains within the M. synoviae cluster, and seven strains within the M. hominis cluster of genus Mycoplasma , which was further confirmed by analyses of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region, and partial rpoB gene and amino acid sequences. Genomic information as well as phenotypic features obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry analysis and serological reactions indicated that the strains examined are representatives of two hitherto unclassified species of genus Mycoplasma , for which the names Mycoplasma nasistruthionis sp. nov., with type strain 2F1AT (= ATCC BAA-1893T = DSM 22456T), and Mycoplasma struthionis sp. nov., with type strain 237IAT (= ATCC BAA-1890T = DSM 22453T), are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avian Diseases is the property of American Association of Avian Pathologists, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study aimed at comparative analysis of the morphological structure and chemical composition of eggs in ostrich, emu and rhea. Examinations were carried out on 30 eggs, 10 eggs per each species. Eggs were from the peri-peak egg laying period. Based on the carried out analyses, both significant species differences and common features were found referring to the morphological and chemical composition of eggs. It was demonstrated that the largest yolk quantity occurred in emu eggs, while the least in ostrich ones (38 and 22%, respectively). Relative albumen weight in ostrich and rhea eggs was similar (59%), whereas significantly smaller in emu eggs (by about 12%). The largest participation of egg shell (19%) was found in ostrich eggs, whereas the least in rhea ones (12%). Chemical analysis of the egg content showed a larger content of dry matter and total protein in ostrich eggs, both in albumen and yolk. It was found that the quantity of fat in ostrich and emu eggs was similar (35-36%), whereas significantly smaller in the yolk of rhea eggs. It was demonstrated that the albumen of emu eggs was characterised by the smallest quantity of mineral elements. Only the ash content in yolk was similar and very high (1.4-1.5%), irrespective of the evaluated bird species. The content of most chemical elements building the egg shell, except calcium, phosphorus and sodium, was similar in respective bird species under examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the speciality literature the informations referring to the morphology of the digestive apparatus in Struthio Camelus are extremely rare, the majority of them referring to Gallus domesticus specie. The researches were made on 5 subjects of 17 days old. The macroscopical investigations were done at the Compared Anatomy discipline, using as study method the dissection, while the histological investigations have been done at the Cellular Biology, Histology and Embryology discipline. The pieces ingathered from the duodenum and fixed in neutral saline formalin were later processed for including in paraffin. The paraffin blocks have been sectioned 6 microns thick and colored using hematoxilin-eosin, hematoxilin-eosinmethil blue and Giemsa stains. The first portion of the small intestine, the duodenum, forms an ansa similar to the ones described in other birds, and in the concavity of the ansa the pancreas can be found. At the origin of the proximal branch of this ansa, the common hepatic duct openes. At this specie, the gall bladder is missing. The pancreas has a main pancreatic duct that approaches the duodenum in the terminal portion of the distal branch of the ansa, through the major duodenum papilla. There were no secondary pancreatic ducts identified. As a result of the histological studies, it has been noticed that the l 7 days old ostrich duodenum presents intestinal villi of different heights but with a constant diameter, in general. The villi of maximum height have the tendency to send out lateral expansions, starting from the middle third to the apical region. The epithelium that layers the villi is simple columnar epithelium, with striated border, in the componence of which columnar cells, goblet cells and cells during the differentiation process are found. The continuity of the duodenal epithelium in the depth of the lamina propria determines the formation of some short Lieberkühn glands. They end near the muscularis mucosae with a dilatated region, having a tubulo-alveolar aspect. Their cellularity is, at this age, in process of differenciating. The muscularis mucoasae is represented by a thin layer of smooth muscular fibers, longitudinally oriented, adherent to the external muscularis due to a submucosae that contains rare conjunctive fibers. The external muscularis presents an internal circular layer and an external, longitudinal layer, made up by smooth muscular fibers, between which integrated neurons belonging to the nervous Auerbach plexus appear. The external layer is in contact with loose connective tissue, where the vascular formations are numerous, covered by a simple squamous epithelium, both constituting the serosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]