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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.)

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.)

O objetivo do experimento foi avaliar se o tempo de permanência dos ovos no ninho afeta a qualidade do ovo a ser incubado interferindo na taxa de eclosão. Utilizaram-se 34 ovos divididos em blocos inteiramente casualizados. A coleta dos ovos foi realizada em dois períodos, manhã (tratamento 1) e madrugada (tratamento 2). Os parâmetros de qualidade dos ovos foram avaliados por meio do peso dos ovos nos dias 0 e 39 de incubação (g), índice de perda de peso do ovo (%), taxa de fertilidade (%), eclodibilidade (%) e mortalidade (%). Os resultados obtidos mostram que não houve diferença significativa em nenhuma das variáveis analisadas. Dessa forma, pode-se concluir que o tempo de permanência no ninho não influência na taxa de eclosão dos ovos, uma vez que o baixo índice de eclodibilidade possa estar relacionado a problemas durante o manejo de incubação, genéticos ou nutricionais.

In the 1990's, ostrich production reached a peak in our country, boosted by the special characteristics of its meat and the potential of the derivatives. The breed raised is a hybrid called African Black (Struthio camelus var. domesticus) which has a high quality meat in terms of nutritional factors and flavor. With regard to reproduction, the female ostrich reaches maturity at the age of 2.5 years. Genital organs are very important in fowl's production, because they can generate fertility deficiencies that, in turn can diminish brood number. Histological analysis allows a better understanding of the basic structure of the female's genital organs and is a helpful tool to resolve breeding problems. For this analysis samples were obtained from the different segments of the reproductive system of 6 female ostrich in reproductive age. These samples were processed using standard histological technique. Sections were observed, photographed and analyzed under the light-microscope. Photographs were compared with hen's samples. The ostrich female's reproductive system has the particularity of having just the left ovary and oviduct developed. The ovary has a big size and a cluster shape which varies from season to season. It presents paramount, previtellogenic, vitellogenic and atresic follicles. The vitellogenic follicles have granulosa cells and inner and external theca. The oviduct presents cephalocaudally: infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus and vagina, flowing into the urodeum. It shows long pleats of different length and number, with drusen of mucose and serose secretion, except in the vagina. The comparative histological analysis allowed us to establish that the basic structure of the female reproductive system is similar to that of the hen (Gallus gallus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the experiment was to verify, through ultrasonography, the follicular activity of ostriches in different seasons of the year, correlating them with photoperiod, number of rainy days in each month and egg laying. Eight females were evaluated monthly, during 12 consecutive months in an ostrich farm located in the Center-West of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It was found that the time of the year for egg laying lasts for eight months, from June to January. The egg laying was positively correlated (r = 0.48; P

A carne de avestruz por apresentar baixos conteúdos de colesterol, gordura intramuscular e altas percentagens de ácidos graxos poli-insaturados ômega-3 é considerada uma carne vermelha saudável e de grande aceitação junto aos consumidores. Considerando que os recortes resultantes da desossa das carcaças de avestruz são partes consideradas menos nobres, desenvolveu-se a produção de três formulações de linguiça frescal tendo como base a carne de avestruz (recortes e aparas), promovendo as análises físico-químicas e colorimétricas com o objetivo caracterizar o perfil físico-químico e colorimétrico dessas diferentes formulações. As três formulações se encontraram dentro dos padrões físico-químicos estipulados pela legislação brasileira (BRASIL, 2000) e não apresentaram diferença significativa entre si, com exceção do teor de cinzas, mais alto nas linguiças mistas. Na análise do teor de pH, observou-se diferença significativa entre os tratamentos, com pH maior nas linguiças puras em relação às mistas. As linguiças puras foram mais escuras e vermelhas que as mistas, sendo que a mista de avestruz, suína e frango foi a mais clara. As linguiças frescais puras ou mistas elaboradas com carne de avestruz são uma opção viável de produção e comercialização, podendo concorrer no mercado com as linguiças tradicionais com perspectiva de êxito.Ostrich's meat has low contents of colestherol and intramuscular fat and high percentages of poliunsaturated fat acid -3 so it's known as a healthy red meat with consumer great acceptability. Considering that ostrich trim (meat resulting from boning) is considered a less noble part, three formulations of ostrich (trim) Brazilian sausage were produced. Physicochemical analyses and color evaluation (L*, a*, b*) were made to determine formulations' physicochemical characteristics and colorimetric profile. The physicochemical results of all formulations were in accord with the Brazilian legislation pattern's (BRASIL, 2000) and no differences (P>0,05) between formulations have been found except in the ash content, higher in mixed sausages. Differences (P>0,05) have been found also between the pH of the treatments, which increased with the heightening of the percentage of ostrich meat in formulation. The sausages formulated with 100% ostrich meat were darker and redder in appearance than the mixed ones. The mixed of ostrich, pork and chicken Brazilian sausage were the lightest. The Brazilian sausages prepared with ostrich meat, pure or mixed, are a viable option for production and sale, and can be placed in the market and compete with the traditional sausages with the prospect of being successful.

Descreve-se um surto de intoxicação por monensina em avestruzes e equinos em uma propriedade no Rio Grande do Sul. Oito dias antes do aparecimento dos primeiros sinais clínicos, uma ração comercial formulada para bovinos, cuja composição incluía monensina (177ppm), foi introduzida na dieta dos animais. Três equinos manifestaram dificuldade de movimentação, cólica, sudorese e decúbito permanente; dois morreram em 48 horas após o inicio dos sinais. Três avestruzes adoeceram, dois apresentaram decúbito esternal permanente, o outro estava apático e relutante ao movimento. Dois avestruzes morreram 15 e 30 dias após o início dos sinais. Nas necropsias dos equinos, observou-se miocárdio com palidez multifocal, hemorragia no endocárdio e no epicárdio (principalmente ao redor dos vasos coronarianos) e musculatura esquelética com áreas branco-amareladas bilaterais e focalmente extensas. Essas alterações corresponderam histologicamente, à miopatia e cardiomiopatia necróticas. Nos avestruzes, músculos esqueléticos difusamente pálidos e com múltiplos pequenos pontos brancos corresponderam à necrose segmentar polifásica, com alterações necróticas e regenerativas

Most descriptions of the ostrich oropharynx and oesophagus are superficial and supply little meaningful morphological data. The aim of this investigation is describe the ostrich oropharingeal cavity, in order to supply the deficiency of macroscopic data about this important animal. Five heads of 12 to 14-month-old ostriches of either sex were anatomically dissected to expose the oropharynx. The ostrich oropharynx was "bell-shaped" composed by the maxillary and mandibular ramphoteca. The roof and floor presented two distinct regions different in colour of the mucosa. The rostral region was pale pink contrasting to creamy-pink coloured caudal region. The median longitudinal ridge extended rostrally from the apex of the choana to the tip of the beak in the roof and it is clearly more prominent and rigid than the homolog in the floor that appeared thin and stretched rostrally, continuing caudally surrounding the tongue and the laryngeal mound eventually merging with the oesophageal mucosa. The floor was formed by the interramal region, tongue and laryngeal mound containing shield-shaped glottis. It can be concluded that the present study, in addition to confirming the basic features of the oropharynx previously described for the ostrich, clarified the contradictory information presented in the literature and also provided new, unreported morphological data, some of which may be important when studying nutrition and health in these birds.

Estudos sorológicos em Avestruzes (Struthio camelus) são ferramentas úteis para analisar os riscos relacionados à Doença de Newcastle nesses plantéis e à avicultura nacional. No presente estudo, amostras de sangue foram obtidas de avestruzes de ambos os sexos, de diferentes faixas etárias e sem apresentação de sintomatologia clínica, criadas nos Estados da Bahia e de São Paulo com o objetivo de avaliar a presença de anticorpos contra o vírus da Doença de Newcastle por meio de ELISA indireto. Foram testadas 339 amostras provenientes do Estado da Bahia e 105 amostras do Estado de São Paulo. Apesar de os proprietários afirmarem que não foi utilizada vacina em seus animais, foi verificada positividade na Bahia de 17,9% e de 4,7% em São Paulo, em avestruzes, sugerindo contato com vírus vacinal ou de campo.Serological studies in ostriches (Struthio camelus) are important tools to assess the risk of Newcastle disease in these herds and to the national poultry industry. In the present study blood samples were obtained from male and female ostriches without symptoms of the disease, raised in Bahia and São Paulo in order to evaluate the presence of antibodies against Newcastle disease virus using an indirect ELISA. There were collected 339 samples in Bahia and 105 samples in São Paulo. Although the owners guarantee that animals were not vaccinated, it was verified the presence 17,9% positives in Bahia and 4,7% in São Paulo, suggesting contact with vaccinal or field strain.

Avestruzes são ratitas originárias da África, sendo encontradas no Brasil, principalmente, em criatórios comerciais, os quais vêm se expandido no país devido ao potencial reprodutivo e alto valor comercial de seus produtos como carne, couro, gordura, plumas e ovos. Porém, as parasitoses são causas de grandes prejuízos econômicos e morte nesses criatórios. Em consequência disso, objetivou-se identificar os ectoparasitos que acometem avestruzes de criatórios comerciais no Rio Grande do Sul. Para tanto, foram coletadas, ao acaso, amostras de plumas e cabeças de 34 avestruzes, durante o abate, no frigorífico de Júlio de Castilhos, Rio Grande do Sul (RS). As amostras de plumas, as cabeças e as fossas nasais foram lavadas, individualmente, com água contendo detergente. Em seguida, o material foi tamisado em malha 150µm e examinado ao estereomicroscópio para coleta dos ectoparasitos. Nas plumas, foram encontrados piolhos e ácaros, os quais foram clarificados em salicilato de metila e lactofenol, respectivamente, e identificados como Struthiolipeurus rheae e Struthiopterolichus sculpturatus. Este é o primeiro registro de ocorrência desses ectoparasitos em avestruzes no Rio Grande do Sul.Ostriches are originated from Africa, and in Brazil they are mostly found in commercial farms which are developing in Brazil due to the great reproductive potential and the great economic value of its products that include meat, leather, feathers and eggs. However, parasitosis causes death of the birds and economic failure. Therefore, the aim of this research was to identify these ectoparasites that infect ostriches from commercial farms in the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Feathers and heads were collected randomly from 34 ostriches slaughtered in the city of Julio de Castilhos, RS. The feathers, heads and nasal cavity were individually cleaned in water with detergent. Following this, the material was sieved in a 150µm sieve and examined by stereomicroscope to search for ectoparasites search. Lice and mites were found in the feathers. The lices were clarified using metil salicilate and the mites by lactophenol. The lices were identified as Struthiolipeurus rheae and the mites as Struthiopterolichus sculpturatus. This is the first description of these arthropods in ostriches in Rio Grande do Sul.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as alterações da qualidade interna de três tipos de ovos de avestruzes: frescos, armazenados sob temperatura ambiente (25°C) e sob temperatura de refrigeração (5°C), durante três, sete, 14, 21 e 28 dias de armazenamento. Houve queda significativa na Unidade Haugh, aumento do pH e diminuição da viscosidade em relação ao tempo de armazenamento. Os ovos mantidos em temperatura ambiente apresentaram maiores alterações do que os ovos armazenados sob refrigeração. Houve uma crescente perda de peso durante os dias de armazenamento, tanto sob temperatura ambiente, quanto em temperatura refrigerada, porém a perda de peso foi mais evidente na temperatura ambiente.The objective of this research was to evaluate the inside changes quality of fresh ostrich eggs and eggs stored in ambient temperature (25°C) and in cooling condition storage (5°C), during 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after storage. There was a considerable slump at Unity Haugh, pH increasing and viscosity decreasing related to time storage. Eggs stored in ambienttemperature showed more alterations than the ones stored under refrigeration. There was an increasing loss of weight during the days of storage in ambient temperature and in cooling condition storage, although the loss of weight was more notable in the ambient temperature.

The aim of this study was to examine the endothelial surface morphology and perform a morphometric analysis of the corneal endothelial cells of ostrich (Struthio camelus) using scanning electron microscopy. Polygonality, mean cell area, cell density and coefficient of variation of mean cell area were analyzed. The normal corneal endothelium consisted of polygonal cells of uniform size and shape with few interdigitations of the cell borders. Microvilli appeared as protusions on the cellular surface. The average cell area was 269±18µm² and the endothelial cell density was 3717±240cells mm-2. The coefficient of variation of the cell area was 0.06, and the percentage of hexagonal cells was 75%. The parameters evaluated did not differ significantly between the right and the left eye from the same ostrich. The results of this study showed that the ostrich corneal endothelial cells appear quite similar to those of the other vertebrates.Objetivou-se examinar a superfície posterior do endotélio corneano e realizar análise morfométrica das células endoteliais da córnea de avestruz (Struthio camelus) valendo-se da microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Avaliaram-se o número de lados, a área celular média, a densidade celular e o coeficiente de variação da área celular. O endotélio corneano de avestruz constitui-se de células poligonais uniformes em tamanho e forma, e com poucas interdigitações das bordas celulares. Visibilizaram-se microvilosidades na superfície celular. A área celular média foi de 269±18µm² e a densidade celular foi de 3717±240 células mm-2. O coeficiente de variação foi de 0,06 e o percentual de células hexagonais de 75%. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os parâmetros avaliados entre os olhos esquerdo e direito. Este estudo demonstrou que o endotélio corneano de avestruz é semelhante ao descrito em outros vertebrados.

Aspectos histológicos do trato gastrintestinal do avestruz (Struthio camelus) são pouco estudados, portanto, é de interesse desta pesquisa ampliar tais estudos. Para isso foram obtidas amostras de diferentes segmentos do tubo digestório de cinco avestruzes jovens, com idade entre 20 a 30 dias. Com base nos resultados obtidos pudemos concluir que os diferentes segmentos do tubo digestório do avestruz jovem apresenta a mesma estrutura geral de outras aves e mamíferos domésticos, com pequenas diferenças, como ausência de inglúvio e vesícula biliar, intestino grosso maior que o intestino delgado e ceco com propriedades fisiológicas semelhantes ao estômago de ruminantes. Estas variações são inerentes à espécie ou podem ser decorrentes da idade e hábito alimentar. Esperamos que esta análise contribua para uma melhor compreensão dos processos fisiológicos relacionados à nutrição e ao manejo do avestruz durante seu crescimento.

O tamanho dos ovos está relacionado com a sobrevivência e o crescimento de filhotes de aves precociais. A inter-relação entre ovo e filhote pode ser importante para a produção animal, fornecendo subsídios para decisões estratégicas de economia, manejo e bem-estar animal. Este estudo analisou a relação entre o peso dos ovos antes da incubação e o desenvolvimento de filhotes de avestruzes (N=48) aos quinze dias de idade. Os filhotes foram criados em grupos, em berçários, com alimentação comercial e sem cuidado parental. Nos filhotes, mensurou-se o peso, a altura da cernelha e o comprimento do tarso-metatarso. Houve uma significativa diferença nos pesos dos ovos, mas as medidas corporais equivalentes dos filhotes não foram estatisticamente diferentes. Em concordância com estudos em outras espécies de aves, o peso do ovo não parece influenciar o crescimento dos filhotes de avestruzes até os 15 dias de vida, em avestruzes.The size of the eggs is related to survival and chick growth in precocial birds. The interrelationship between egg and chick development can be important for the animal production, supplying data for strategic decisions of economy, handling and animal welfare. This study analyzed the relation between the weight of the eggs and the development of ostrich chicks (N=48) at age of fifteen days old. The chicks were kept in indoor nurseries, in groups, without parental care, and fed commercial feed. It was recorded the weight, the back height and the length of the tarsus-metatarsus. There was a significant difference in the weight of the eggs, but the correspondent body chicken measures were not statistically different. In agreement to the studies in other species of birds, the weight of the egg does not seem to influence the growth of the ostriches at fifteen days old.

Foram estudados corpúsculos de Herbst da mucosa palatina de avestruz em nível de microscopia de luz. Os corpúsculos compõem-se de uma cápsula externa, cápsula interna e axônio central. A cápsula externa apresentou numerosas lamelas, enquanto que a cápsula interna mostrou estrutura de folhas compactas. Os corpúsculos apresentaram formato ovalado ou circular e circundado por espessos feixes de fibras colágenas. Cada lamela estava composta de uma densa rede de fibras espessas. Os axônios terminais estavam situados ao longo do eixo, terminando em um bulbo terminal. As fibras da cápsula externa, coradas por Picrosirius e examinadas no microscópio óptico sob luz polarizada, revelou a presença de fibras colágenas do tipo I em verde e na região periférica observou-se grande quantidade de fibras colágenas do tipo III. Os corpúsculos apresentaram-se envoltos por células planas e envoltos por fibras colágenas.Herbst corpuscles of the palatine mucosa of ostrich were studied by light microscopy. The corpuscles are composed of an outer core, inner core and central nerve terminal. The outer core presents numerous lamellae, while the inner core shows compact structure of cytoplasm sheets. The corpuscles are elongate or oval in shape and are surrounded by bundles of collagen fibers. Each lamella is composed of a dense network of thick fibrils. The terminal axons are located along the axis and form a bulb terminal. The fibers of external core stained by Picrosirius and examined by polarized light microscopy revealed to be green in color like type I collagen fibers, and at the periphery is a large amount of collagen type III. The corpuscles are surrounded by flat cells and dense collagen fibers at the periphery.

The experiment's goal was to assess whether the pace of Permanence of non- nest eggs affects egg quality of a being incubated interfering with the hatching rate. They used 34 eggs divided into randomized blocks. The collection of eggs was carried out in two periods, morning (treatment 1) and dawn (Treatment 2). The quality parameters of eggs Were evaluated by weight Half of eggs On days 0 and 39 of incubation (g) loss rate of egg weight (%), fertility rate (%), hatchability (%) and mortality (%). The obtained results show there was no significant difference in any of the analyzed variables. Thus, may be concluded that the rate of permanence without nest not influence the hatching rate of the eggs, once low hatchability rate may be related a problem during the hatchery management , genetic or nutritional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.)

Since 2000, Macrorhabdus ornithogaster "megabacteriosis" has been diagnosed in the avian diseases laboratory in a diversity of avian species and varied spectrum of disease. The disease in some species (chickens, turkeys, guinea fowls) was clinically characterized by emaciation, prostration, loss of appetite, cachexia and death, with a typically chronic course. A more acute disease was observed in finches (canary-Serinus and zebra-Taeniopygia) and budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). The large rod shaped organism, visible from 100 times magnification, with and without staining, could be detected in sick and also in reasonably normal individuals of some species, such as chickens, turkeys, quails and pigeons. In rheas (Rhea americana), ostriches (Struthio camelus), canaries, zebra-finches, guinea-fowl (Numida meleagris) and budgerigars. The disease was severe, causing to up to 100% mortality. The infection could be detected in some species along with other infectious or disease problems, such as endoparasites (helminths, coccidia) and ectoparasitism (order Mallophaga or/and order Acarina). The cultivation of M. ornithogaster was successfully achieved in solid and liquid media, originated from chickens (four isolates), guinea fowl (1 isolate), chuckar partridge (1 isolate) and canary (1 isolate). A very interesting finding at microscopy was motility of M. ornithogaster, as detected both in cultures obtained on agar for pathogenic fungi and passaged into thioglycolate broth, as well as on samples observed in wet preparations from in vivo. Differences in colony aspects were noted among the isolates. Experimental infections were attempted in chicken and japanese quail, using a chicken isolate, allowing the detection of the organism in the proventriculus and liver in apparently normal birds. One chicken isolate was injected intraperitoneally in Balb/c mice and resulted in 100% mortality.Desde 2000, diversos casos de infecção e doença por Macrorhabdus ornithogaster (megabacteria) foram diagnosticados no Setor de Doenças das Aves (Escola de Veterinária da UFMG). A doença clínica foi caracterizada por emagrecimento, prostração, perda do apetite, caquexia e morte, em curso crônico, embora com forma mais aguda em canários e periquitos. O microrganismo grande, em forma de bastão, visível a partir de 100 aumentos sem e com coloração, pode também ser detectado em aves de aspecto clínico normal, principalmente galinhas, perus, codornas e pombos. Em emas (Rhea), avestruzes (Struthio camelus), canários, mandarins, galinhas da Angola (Numida meleagris) e periquitos Australianos (Melopsittacus undulatus), a severidade da doença foi sempre maior, ocasionando até 100% de mortalidade em alguns plantéis. Na maioria das espécies a doença foi detectada em aves com endo e/ou ectoparasitismo. O cultivo de M. ornithogaster foi obtido em meio sólido (ágar para fungos patogênicos) e subcultivado em meio líquido (thioglicolato), do proventriculo de galinha, galinha da Angola, perdiz de chuckar e canário. O resultado mais surpreendente na microscopia de M. ornithogaster foi a presença de motilidade, detectada tanto de cultivos in vitro quanto de preparações úmidas de in vivo. Diferenças nos aspectos das colônias foram notadas entre os isolados. Infecções experimentais em galinha (SPF) e codorna japonesa permitiram a detecção do organismo nos proventrículos das aves de aspecto normal. Nas codornas, à necropsia notaram-se hemorragias hepáticas. A infecção experimental em camundongos via intraperitoneal resultou em 100% de mortalidade, também com lesões hepáticas. Aspectos do cultivo, a importância da doença, as espécies de aves susceptíveis e seu papel na epidemiologia são discutidos.

The ostrich farming began in Brazil in 1995. The information regarding the productivity and profitability of the activity need to be clarified. This study objective to analyze the risks in the activity and the economic viability of the ostrich, using own or outsourced hatchery. From the information obtained in Sudeste region, between the years 2009 and 2010, manuals and surveys of commercial producers who develop the complete cycle (hatching, reproduction, life-cycle ostrich and commercialization), professionals and providers was possible to characterize, projection and calculations, considering an ostrich started from 4 to 40 breeding pairs, with a production average of 10 pups/female/year. The cash flows were constructed for characterizing the activity meat production, in a horizon of 10 years. The composition of the production costs and economic analysis of farms was performance, considering different forms of hatching eggs, to take decision to the risks involved. The survey of the risks and the results were determined by means of the Delphi technique, using structured questionnaires to experts working in the field of Agribusiness. The feed was the largest item of cost-sharing. The economic viability for the ostrich creation with its own hatchery, requires 36 breeding pairs, and to ostrich creation with its outsourced hatchery with 27 breeding pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effect of dietary organic and inorganic selenium supplementation on chemical, mineral and fatty acid composition of ostrich meat. Forty ostriches were raised in two groups (OSe and IOSe, diets supplemented with an organic form and an inorganic form of selenium, respectively). The form of selenium had no influence on chemical composition of ostrich muscle. Although, there were no significant differences in total content of SFA, MUFA and PUFA, the content of LA and EPA was higher in the muscles of ostriches which were put on a diet supplemented with an organic form of selenium, what resulted in lower n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio in OSe group (9.99) in comparison to IOSe group (11.70). The results of the study indicate that dietary organic selenium supplementation improves the quality of the ostrich meat as related to the health promoting properties (LA, EPA and selenium content) of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Criatórios de avestruz têm se tornado comuns no Brasil, mas por se tratar de espécie exótica, as informações sobre as doenças desses animais no nosso ambiente são escassas. Um avestruz de cinco meses de idade apresentou tosse, anorexia, perda de peso, dispnéia discreta, temperatura corporal normal e morreu oito dias após o início dos sinais clínicos. Macroscopicamente foram observados nódulos múltiplos no pulmão e nos sacos aéreos. Histolopatogicamente, observou-se pneumonia granulomatosa e necrosante multifocal com hifas ramificadas e septadas intralesionais com características morfológicas de Aspergillus sp. Nos sacos aéreos, além das hifas e processo inflamatório adjacente haviam vários micélios com conidióforos na superfície interna. Foi isolado Aspergillus fumigatus dos tecidos afetados. De acordo com os achados histopatológicos e micológicos firmou-se o diagnóstico de pneumonia e aerossaculite micótica severa causada por Aspergillus fumigatus. Com base nas informações disponíveis na literatura, esse é o primeiro caso de aspergilose em avestruz documentado no Brasil.

O conhecimento da microbiota que compõe as diferentes áreas do organismo tem importância reconhecida para a compreensão de doenças infecciosas que podem acometer os avestruzes, embora se disponha de dados limitados acerca deste assunto na literatura. Foi objetivo deste estudo determinar as espécies de microrganismos (bactérias aeróbias e fungos) que compõem a microbiota normal de avestruzes. Para tanto, foram coletadas amostras de cloaca (N=50) e orofaringe (N=50) de avestruzes hígidos de um criadouro. Das amostras de cloaca, foram isolados Escherichia coli (76% das amostras positivas), Bacillus spp. (60%), Streptococcus spp. (18%), Staphylococcus coagulase-negativo (16%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8%), Rhodotorula spp. (8%), dentre outros microrganismos isolados em cultura pura ou em associação com outras bactérias e/ou fungos. Das amostras de orofaringe, foram isolados E. coli (74% das amostras positivas), Candida albicans (44%), Bacillus spp. (38%), Staphylococcus coagulase-negativo (32%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (32%), Rhodotorula spp. (8%), Criptococcus spp. (4%), dentre outros microrganismos isolados em cultura pura ou em associação com outras bactérias e/ou fungos. Verificou-se predominância de bactérias Gram negativas em relação às Gram positivas, nas microbiotas da cloaca e orofaringe. Verificou-se freqüência de ocorrência semelhante entre bactérias Gram negativas nas microbiotas da cloaca e orofaringe, bem como de bactérias Gram positivas nestes mesmos sítios. Observou-se maior ocorrência de leveduras em amostras de orofaringe quando comparadas com as de cloaca.

A análise morfológica da casca do ovo da avestruz é importante, pois diversos fatores morfológicos podem estar relacionados com a eclodibilidade do ovo desta espécie no Brasil. Para tanto foram analisadas 60 amostras de ovos aparentemente normais (ovos eclodidos e com morte embrionária). Foram efetuadas observações que permitiram estabelecer: a espessura média da casca do ovo, a porosidade da casca destes ovos, e correlacionar estas variáveis com a eclodibilidade. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente mediante o teste de Duncan, o que mostrou que ovos com menor porosidade tem também uma menor eclodibilidade. A porosidade média dos ovos eclodidos é de 19,87 poros/cm², e dos ovos com morte embrionária é de 16,78 poros/cm². Não houve diferença estatística entre a espessura da casca nas regiões estudada, nem interação entre viabilidade e as regiões.

The aim of the current study focused on the morphological features of the brain of the African ostrich. The brain was studied macroscopically, microscopically and the measurements of all brain parts were demonstrated. The brain of ostrich was rhombus in shape with large obtuse triangular cerebrum with sagittal dorsomedial wulst. The olfactory bulb was small with undeveloped olfactory lobe. The diencephalon gave rise to the pineal gland, which was inverted tubal structure with an obtuse triangle bottom. Large optic chiasm and optic tract demonstrated that continued to the optic lobes. The cerebellum was represented by central vermis that had numerous transverse fissures and two small lateral floccules on its lateral surface. The medulla oblongata with clear pontine flexure and no obvious pons or trapezoid body appeared. The histological results revealed that the cerebral cortex formed of several ill-defined layers of neurons. The most common appearance characterized by few small neurons supported by neuroglia. The cerebellar cortex consists of three layers namely molecular layer, Purkinje cells layer and internal granular layer, the layer of Purkinje cells characterized by a very large cell body. The medulla oblongata was covered by pia mater of loose connective tissue that covered with simple squamous epithelium and vascular supply extended beneath the pia mater. The cell nuclei of the medulla oblongata were formed from few multipolar neurons, supported by few neuroglia. The fourth ventricle was lined by pseudo stratified columnar ciliated ependymal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term myocardial bridge is attributed to all cardiac muscle fibers, which sometimes overlap a subepicardial segment of a particular branch of the right and left coronary arteries. Polacek in 1959 was the first to approach this entity from the standpoint of muscle. From this arises the name of "myocardial bridge" and is currently the term most widely used clinically. The presence of these bridges, has been identified in humans and in animals and based on that, 50 African Black class ostrich hearts were studied, with the aim to determine the presence of myocardial bridges, number, length and main arteries where they are located. There was presence of myocardial bridges in 20 (40.0%) of the 50 hearts studied, the total number of myocardial bridges was 34, of which 30 (88.2%) were located on the left coronary artery and its branches and 4 (11.8%) over the right coronary artery and its branches. The number of bridges ranged from 1 to 4 by heart. The vessels most frequently observed were: ventricular branches paraconal interventricular branch with 22 (64.7%) and interventricular branch paraconal bridges with 8 (23.5%) bridges. Metrical records of the extent of myocardial bridges ranged between 1.6 mm and 73.1 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duzentos e quarenta avestruzes, com idades entre 12 e 24 meses, foram examinados quanto ao parasitismo por Struthiolipeurus spp. Destes, 168 apresentavam-se infestados por piolhos (70%). Todas as aves foram tratadas com solução de cipermetrina a 15%, na diluição de 1ml/l, por pulverização com auxílio de uma bomba costal. Os animais positivos foram reexaminados nos dias 7, 14 e 21 após o tratamento, e não foram mais encontrados piolhos. A cipermetrina apresentou 100% de eficácia no controle de piolhos do gênero Struthiolipeurus em avestruz.

No período de maio a agosto de 2005, foram visitados 19 planteis de avestruzes na região semi-árida do município de Irecê, Bahia, objetivando identificar os ectoparasitos. As aves, predominantemente da raça "African Black", eram criadas em sistema intensivo e distribuídas, por faixa etária, em colônias, trio, casal ou creche. Durante a inspeção das aves, as plumas colhidas aleatoriamente, de várias regiões do corpo, foram acondicionadas em sacos plásticos e as larvas, colhidas das miíases, em álcool etílico a 70%. Em 74% (14/19) e 47% (04/19) dos plantéis encontravam-se avestruzes infestadas, respectivamente, pelas espécies Struthiopterolichus bicaudatus e Struthiolipeurus rheae. Somente em um plantel (5,3%) foi encontrado um animal parasitado por larvas de Cochliomyia hominivorax.In the period of May to August of 2005, 19 ostrich's farms were visited in the semi-arid area of the Irecê, Bahia, in order to describe the ectoparasites. The African Black ostriches were reared in intensive system, and distributed for age group, in colonies, trio, couple or crèche. In each farm, after visually inspection of the ostrich, the feathers were taken in several areas of the body and were kept in plastic bags. The screwworms found were collected and stored in 70% ethanol. In 74% (14/19) and 47% (04/19) of the flocks were found ostriches infested, respectively, for the Struthiopterolichus bicaudatus (acari) and Struthiolipeurus rheae (mallophaga). In only one flock (5.3%) it was found an animal with Cochliomyia hominivorax larvae.

Several young ostrich, including nestlings, with lassitude and inappetence followed by death or victim of sudden death were immediately brought to diagnosis at an Animal Health Laboratory. At necropsy, animals presented hemorrhage and altered content of the vitelline sac, and necrotic foci in the small intestine; one animal showed necrotic pleuropneumonia with psammomatosus bodies in the lung parenchyma. The cultures from different samples revealed Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter aglomerans, and Pseudomonas mendocina. It was suggested one case of septicemia in an animal with exclusive growth of K. pneumoniae isolated from samples of small intestine, lung, and liver.

For the first time, it was identified a mite in a three-year-old male ostrich that had lost feathers and showed skin irritation. The animal belonged to a flock of 50 birds, located in Baixada Fluminense, in Rio de Janeiro State. After they were fixed in 70% alcohol, clarifyed in lactophenol and mounted in Canada balsam, the mites were identified in the laboratory. They belonged to the Pterolichidae family and Struthioperolichus sculpturatus species (Hirst). The ostrich was treated by ivermectin in dose of 200µg/kg of body weight, with recovery and disappearance of the clinical symptoms. The occurrence of mite infestation by the described species in ostrich should be monitored by professionals and farmers, as they cause fall of feathers and economic losses.

A despeito de o avestruz (Struthio camelus) compartilhar muitas adaptações evolucionárias presentes em outras aves, estes animais apresentam algumas características anatômicas peculiares, como é o caso do seu tubo digestivo em que o cólon é maior que o ceco. Há algum tempo, essa ave tem sido explorada econômicamente e principalmente como fonte alternativa de proteína animal na alimentação humana. O presente trabalho analisou os aspectos histológicos do intestino de avestruzes produzidos em boas condições de manejo ambiental e nutricional. Foram utilizados 13 avestruzes, com 18 a 30 meses de idade, provenientes da empresa Brasil Ostrich, e encaminhados para o abate no Abatedouro Escola da Universidade de São Paulo, Campus Administrativo de Pirassununga. Os animais foram abatidos com pistola pneumática e, após a sangria e evisceração, foram colhidas amostras de diferentes segmentos do intestino: duodeno, jejuno, íleo e ceco duplo. Os materiais foram processados, corados pela técnica de hematoxilina-eosina (H-E) e examinados em microscopia de campo claro. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que as vilosidades estão presentes no duodeno, porém, não existem no ceco. Dos quatro segmentos intestinais examinados, o ceco foi o que apresentou maior número de células caliciformes. Os nódulos linfáticos e os linfócitos foram observados em todos os segmentos examinados. No ceco, os nódulos linfáticos se agregam para constituir a placa de Peyer. O plano histológico dos segmentos intestinais examinados seguiu o padrão observado nos mamíferos domésticos e em outras aves. O conhecimento da histologia dos intestinos desses animais pode oferecer subsídios para a avaliação comparativa de procedimentos de manejo ambiental e nutricional que possam aumentar os níveis de produção e produtividade dessa atividade pecuária.

Ratites differ distinctively in the anatomy of their digestive tracts. For example, Common Ostriches (Struthio camelus, hereafter Ostriches) have a particularly long, voluminous colon and long, paired caeca; Rheas (Rhea spp.) are characterized by a short colon with particularly prominent paired caeca; and Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) have neither prominent caeca nor a prominent colon. We tested whether digesta excretion patterns corresponded to these differences in anatomy, expecting Ostriches to have the longest and Emus the shortest digesta retention times, and Rheas possibly showing a selective retention of fluids observed in other birds and mammals with prominent caeca. We used 6 Ostriches (97-123 kg), 5 Greater Rheas (R. americana, 22-27 kg), and 2 Emus (32-34 kg) fed a common diet of alfalfa pellets ad libitum in captivity. Intake per unit of metabolic body mass did not differ between Ostriches and Greater Rheas but was significantly higher in Emus, which also displayed higher defecation frequencies and lower fiber digestibility. Mean digesta retention time for small fiber particles (2 mm) differed significantly among species (Ostrich: 30-36 h; Greater Rhea: 7-19 h; Emu: 1.3-1.8 h), but there were no differences between the retention of 2 mm or 8 mm particles or a solute marker within species. The shape of the marker excretion curves corresponded to digesta mixing in the digestive tract of Ostriches and Greater Rheas but not Emus. The calculated dry matter gut fill (% of body mass) was significantly higher in Ostriches (1.6-1.8) than Greater Rheas (0.3-1.0) and Emus (0.2). Ostriches had the highest and Emus the lowest fecal dry matter concentration. These physiological findings match the differences in digestive anatomy and support the concept that in ratites, herbivory-and hence flightlessness-evolved repeatedly in different ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to show the importance of meat, production, animal welfare, and the characterization of sausages made from nontraditional raw materials. The importance of meat as a source of food for humans dates back to very early times as evidenced by all the investigations that have been made in this regard. Presently the study of meat and its quality is one of the main areas that integrate research and food technology. As food, meat contains an important source of protein of high biological quality, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, which vary depending on the species, age or sex. Beef is perhaps the most consumed but meats such as chicken, pork, sheep are also highly valued in the world. In Asian countries, meats which are untraditional for us are conventional for them. According to deductions, world meat production will double by 2050 and is expected that most of the growth will focus on developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the growing interest of the ostrich industry (Struthio camelus var. domesticus) and the scarce bibliographic material related to morphology of the respiratory system of the ostrich, we carried out a comparative analysis of the laryngotracheal pulmonary segment of this bird. The research was conducted in six clinically healthy ostriches from which representative samples of the laryngotracheal pulmonary segment were obtained. Samples were processed using standard histological technique and a comparative morphological analysis between ostriches and chicken (Gallus gallus) was performed. In the ostrich, the arytenoid cartilage is double and placed in a dorsal and cranial position in relation to the larynx while the cricoid cartilage is single and situated in a ventral and caudal position. Like the chicken, the procricoid cartilage is also present. The trachea exhibits a greater number of rings compared to the chicken. At the syrinx level, the pessulus is made up of a dorso-ventral double-fold of mucous membrane with a lamina propria of dense connective tissue over a thick adipose layer. Unlike the chicken the ostrich pessulus does not contain any ossified or cartilaginous tissues. The mucosa between the larynx and secondary bronchi has a pseudostratified prismatic ciliated epithelium with mucous goblet cells with crypts and simple tubuloalveolar mucosal glands for mucous secretion. In the extrapulmonary primary bronchi this histological feature is observed only in the medial aspect where the ends of the cartilaginous rings are found. The remaining mucosa of these bronchi has a pseudostratified prismatic ciliated epithelium with mucous goblet cells. Aerial sacs show this histological feature in some sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A ave avestruz (Struchio camelus) é originária da África, pertencendo a família das Ratitas. Seu valor zootécnico vem crescendo especialmente na região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo. Para a realização deste trabalho, utilizamos 20 peças de avestruz (Struthio camelus), machos e fêmeas, jovens e adultos, oriundos de criatórios da região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo. Após a abertura do trato gastrintestinal, ao longo da sua margem livre, escoamos as vias bilíferas mediante suaves massagens, canalizamos o ducto excretor, utilizando para tanto uma sonda flexível de polietileno de calibre compatível com a mencionada estrutura e, em seguida, injetamos por esta via Neoprene-látex “450” corado. Estas glândulas foram, a seguir, distendidas em base rígida, fixadas em solução de formol a 10%, esquematizadas e fotografadas. O ramo principal direito resulta do ramo lateral direito, ramo lobo quadrado e do ramo processo caudado em sete fígados. Em 13 peças, o ramo lateral direito é formado pelos ramos lateral direito e do processo caudado. O ramo esquerdo recebe os componentes oriundos do lobo lateral esquerdo e ramo do lobo medial esquerdo em todas as sete peças. Para ele, também aflui componente oriundo do lobo quadrado em 13 preparações e do processo caudado em sete fígados. Conclui-se que o fígado no avestruz não apresenta vesícula biliar, fazendo com que o ducto colédoco seja a única via de excreção da bile, resultando sempre da convergência do ducto hepático direito com o ducto hepático esquerdo.

Várias doenças músculo esqueléticas foram observadas em aves de rápido crescimento, sendo o elevado peso corporal, associado a uma estrutura óssea em formação, citados como as principais causas responsáveis pela ocorrência destas doenças, resultando em disfunções do aparelho locomotor. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo fazer um estudo anátomo-patológico e radiográfico das estruturas envolvidas na rotação tibiotársica, assim como estudar as alterações articulares por meio de artrografias e histologia fazendo uma descrição das considerações anatômicas, macroscópicas, microscópicas e radiográficas do membro pélvico do avestruz (African Black). Dessa forma, será possível contribuir para o entendimento desta enfermidade, que tem causado perdas para a estrutiocultura.

A toxoplasmose é uma zoonose cosmopolita causada pelo protozoário Toxoplasma gondii, podendo acometer mamíferos e aves. O presente estudo teve como objetivo estimar a prevalência do Toxoplasma gondii em avestruzes (Struthio camelus) de criatórios comerciais do estado de São Paulo, como forma de auxiliar no conhecimento do comportamento e importância do parasito nesta espécie animal. Foram colhidas 195 amostras de soro de avestruzes, provenientes de Sorocaba, Campinas, São Carlos, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Vale do Ribeira, Botucatu e São José do Rio Preto, estado de São Paulo. As amostras foram analisadas pela Técnica de Aglutinação Direta Modificada (MAT), para a pesquisa de anticorpos anti - Toxoplasma gondii. Os exames sorológicos revelaram 14,36% de animais sororreagentes ao T. gondii. A titulação mínima considerada foi a diluição maior ou igual a 1:16, e a maior diluição encontrada foi 1:16384. Não foi constatada diferença significativa entre os sexos. Apenas duas regiões (São Paulo e São José do Rio Preto) não apresentaram animais sororreagentes. Esses resultados salientam a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado sobre a infecção em avestruzes, e também sobre as práticas de manejo que venham a minimizar o risco de transmissão da toxoplasmose para essas aves e, por conseqüência, para o consumidor final.

We consider it important to know the heart of the ostrich irrigation due to the paucity of research, for which there has been a descriptive study of the distribution pattern of the coronary arteries and their branches ventricular determining the presence, origin, length and distribution of these. We identified ventricular branches, anastomoses, type of dominance and perform a comparison of ostrich heart of mammals and humans. Fifthy hearts were studied ostrich, African Black class, were prepared and injected the coronary arteries with neoprene, with a different color, and treated in 10% formalin for 10 to 12 days for dissection of the arteries and ventricular branches. Coronary arteries of the heart of ostrich originate in the right and left aortic sinuses. The right is at 98%, with an average length of 127.1 mm, runs reaching the coronary sulcus which originates subsinuoso interventricular septal branch in 92% subsinuous also causes the cone branch by 98% and branches ventricular. The left is present in 100%, has an average length of 40.19 mm, branches originating from it are the septal artery paraconal 100%, the circumflex artery 100%, the artery of the cone 96%, a diagonal branch present only in 2%, interventricular artery subsinuous present in 8%, and also presents ventricular branches. Of the anastomosis, at 6% was not found, with 42%, 22% two to three 30%. The most common is between the artery and circumflex interventricular subsinuous present in 42.1 %, right dominance, is 56%, the balance of 36% and left dominance only by 8%. It was observed that the surface blood supply at the heart of ostrich, the type of dominance and the large number of superficial anastomosis was resembling the human heart and mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ostrich's meat has low contents of colestherol and intramuscular fat and high percentages of poliunsaturated fat acid -3 so it's known as a healthy red meat with consumer great acceptability. Considering that ostrich trim (meat resulting from boning) is considered a less noble part, three formulations of ostrich (trim) Brazilian sausage were produced. Physicochemical analyses and color evaluation (L*, a*, b*) were made to determine formulations' physicochemical characteristics and colorimetric profile. The physicochemical results of all formulations were in accord with the Brazilian legislation pattern's (BRASIL, 2000) and no differences (P>0,05) between formulations have been found except in the ash content, higher in mixed sausages. Differences (P>0,05) have been found also between the pH of the treatments, which increased with the heightening of the percentage of ostrich meat in formulation. The sausages formulated with 100% ostrich meat were darker and redder in appearance than the mixed ones. The mixed of ostrich, pork and chicken Brazilian sausage were the lightest. The Brazilian sausages prepared with ostrich meat, pure or mixed, are a viable option for production and sale, and can be placed in the market and compete with the traditional sausages with the prospect of being successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

The article provides information on a study which examined ostrich gastric dysfunctions diagnosed at the Escola de Veterinária at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais from 1997 to 2009. The study analyzed clinical records with data of necropsies, clinical and laboratory results collected from 1997 to 2009. The analysis of the records showed that 46.2% of diagnosed dysfunctions in ostriches were gastroenteric diseases and 53.9% were dysfunctions of various origins.

The arrangement of the ventricular myocardial fibers of the ostrich heart (Struthio camelus) was macro and mesoscopically studied in 14 ostrich hearts, dissected by an adaptation of the Pettigrew method. Three different myocardial layers - superficial (subepicardial), middle and deep (subendocardial) - have been identified according to the ventricular myocardial fibers orientation. The superficial fibers are common for both ventricles, however, the fibers of the middle and deep layers, are unique to each ventricle. The left ventricle presents a thick middle muscular layer, which also constitutes the main part of the interventricular septum and the heart apex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serological studies in ostriches (Struthio camelus) are important tools to assess the risk of Newcastle disease in these herds and to the national poultry industry. In the present study blood samples were obtained from male and female ostriches without symptoms of the disease, raised in Bahia and São Paulo in order to evaluate the presence of antibodies against Newcastle disease virus using an indirect ELISA. There were collected 339 samples in Bahia and 105 samples in São Paulo. Although the owners guarantee that animals were not vaccinated, it was verified the presence 17,9% positives in Bahia and 4,7% in São Paulo, suggesting contact with vaccinal or field strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ostriches are originated from Africa, and in Brazil they are mostly found in commercial farms which are developing in Brazil due to the great reproductive potential and the great economic value of its products that include meat, leather, feathers and eggs. However, parasitosis causes death of the birds and economic failure. Therefore, the aim of this research was to identify these ectoparasites that infect ostriches from commercial farms in the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Feathers and heads were collected randomly from 34 ostriches slaughtered in the city of Julio de Castilhos, RS. The feathers, heads and nasal cavity were individually cleaned in water with detergent. Following this, the material was sieved in a 150μm sieve and examined by stereomicroscope to search for ectoparasites search. Lice and mites were found in the feathers. The lices were clarified using metil salicilate and the mites by lactophenol. The lices were identified as Struthiolipeurus rheae and the mites as Struthiopterolichus sculpturatus. This is the first description of these arthropods in ostriches in Rio Grande do Sul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heart of the ostrich (Struthio camelus), just like the domestic birds's heart, has a muscular right atrioventricular valve without chordae tendinae and a membranous left atrioventricular valve with chordae tendinae than extends between the cusps and 3 papillary muscles. The aim of the study was to describe the papillary muscles, number, position and some morphologic characteristics. Fifty ostrich hearts ( Struthio camelus ), were dissected and fixed in 10 % formalin and which got histological slices from 7 microns themselves they were stained with Van Gieson and H E. The macroscopic study evidenced absence of papillary muscles in the right ventricle and in the left ventricle 3 muscular masses formed by longitudinal trabeculae carneae that give insertion to the chordae tendinae. It was observed in the histological slices that the dorsal and ventral insertion points of the right atrioventricular valve to the ventricular wall, are prolongations of the muscle that forms the valve and shows conductive cardiac fibers. In the left ventricle, the longitudinal trabeculae carneae also show conductive cardiac fibers the ones that extend to the zone of insertion of the chordae tendinae. The results evidence that the heart of the ostrich (Struthio camelus ) does not have papillary muscles of conical form like in the human heart, are more developed muscular formations than in the domestic birds's heart and functionally acts like papillary muscles to show conductive cardiac fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the endothelial surface morphology and perform a morphometric analysis of the corneal endothelial cells of ostrich (Struthio camelus) using scanning electron microscopy. Polygonality, mean cell area, cell density and coefficient of variation of mean cell area were analyzed. The normal corneal endothelium consisted of polygonal cells of uniform size and shape with few interdigitations of the cell borders. Microvilli appeared as protusions on the cellular surface. The average cell area was 269±18μm2 and the endothelial cell density was 3717±240cells mm-2. The coefficient of variation of the cell area was 0.06, and the percentage of hexagonal cells was 75%. The parameters evaluated did not differ significantly between the right and the left eye from the same ostrich. The results of this study showed that the ostrich corneal endothelial cells appear quite similar to those of the other vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three groups of bacteria compete for hydrogen in different anaerobic ecosystems; along with CO2 they produce methane, hydrogen sulfide and acetate. These reactions mean energy gain for the animal. The purpose of this study was to determine presence and size of populations of hydrogen utilizing bacteria in different portions of the gastrointestinal tract of the ostrich. Anaerobic procedures and culture media were used for isolation and quantification. AC11 media was used for acetogenic, Potgate for sulfate reducing and phosphate buffer for methanogenic bacteria. Size of populations was determined by most probable number (MPN). The experimental design was completely random, with factorial arrangement A= portions of digestive tract and B= microorganism types. MPN of acetogenic and methanogenic bacteria was zero. Sulfate reducing bacteria were present in all gastrointestinal tracts. The results for the number of population were 544.00, 532.00, 157.20, 155.32 and 76.48 x 106 for the large intestine, cecum, small intestine, proventricle, and ventricle, respectively. Results confirm the presence and prevalence of sulfate-reducing bacteria in all the gastrointestinal tract portions evaluated from ostriches. The AGV production in the ostrich gastrointestinal tract is a result of the metabolism and reuse of hydrogen by sulfate-reducing bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se determinaron valores bioquímicos selectos en el plasma de sangre venosa de 45 avestruces (Struthio camelus) clínicamente sanos de diferentes edades y sexo a 2 220 msnm. Los animales fueron divididos en cuatro grupos por edad, el grupo de adultos fue subdividido en dos grupos por sexo. El grupo 1 (n = 10) eran pollos de edad promedio de 26.5 d; el grupo 2 (n = 10) incluyó pollos de 70.0 d de edad; el grupo 3 (n = 8) eran aves de 232.4 d; el grupo 4 (n = 17) estuvo formado por diez hembras y siete machos de seis años de edad. La dieta fue una mezcla a base de heno de alfalfa picado, sorgo, harina de soya, con suplemento de vitaminas y minerales y con el agua de bebida se proporcionaron ad libitum. En todas las muestras de plasma sanguíneo se determinaron 17 analitos bioquímicos. Entre las diferentes edades de avestruces se encontraron diferencias significativas (P < 0.05) en los valores de glucosa, ácido úrico, proteína total, albúmina, globulinas, Ca2+, P inorgánico, colesterol, ALT, AST, creatina cinasa, fosfatasa alcalina y amilasa. Al comparar hembras y machos adultos se encontraron diferencias significativas (P < 0.05) en los valores de proteína total, albúmina, globulinas, Ca2+, Mg2+, P inorgánico. Los valores bioquímicos determinados en este estudio se pueden considerar como referencia útil para el diagnóstico de enfermedades en esta especie en las diferentes edades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selected biochemical values were determined in venous blood plasma from 45 clinically healthy ostriches (Struthio camelus) of different age and sex at an altitude 2 200 m above sea level. Animals were divided by age into 4 groups and the group of adults was divided by sex into 2 subgroups. Group 1 included chickens (n =10) aged 26.5 d; Group 2 included 70-day-old chickens (n =10); Group 3 were juvenile birds (n =8) aged 232.4 d; Group 4 was formed by 10 females and 7 males (n =17), aged 6 years old. The diet was a mixture composed of chopped alfalfa hay, sorghum and soybean meal, supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Drinking water and diet were provided ad libitum. In all blood samples 17 biochemical analytes were determined. Significant (P < 0.05) age effect was found in the values for glucose, uric acid, total protein, albumin, globulins, Ca2+, inorganic P, cholesterol, ALT, AST, creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase and amylase. There was also a significant (P < 0.05) sex difference in values for total protein, albumin, globulins, Ca2+, Mg2+ and inorganic P. Blood biochemical values determined in this study can be considered reference data for disease diagnosis in ostriches of different ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ocorrência de Struthiopterolichus bicaudatus é assinalada em uma criação de avestruz no estado de Minas Gerais. Os principais sinais associados com a presença dos ácaros foram penas quebradas com a falta de barbas no vexilo, principalmente nas penas das asas, e prurido. Esses sinais foram observados em todas as aves do plantel (285 animais) com idade acima de 13 meses. As aves com idade abaixo de 13 meses (60 animais) não apresentaram qualquer sinal, tampouco ácaros.