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A 19-year-old male ostrich ( Struthio camelus ) was referred to a veterinary teaching hospital (São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil) due to a 6-month history of recurrent prolapse of the phallus. On physical examination, 2 ulcerative wounds were present on the phallus, as well as caseous plaques and myiasis. Conservative treatment resulted in improvement but prolapse of the phallus remained. Thus, a decision was made to perform a partial phallectomy. The surgery was successful and no postoperative complications occurred. When the ostrich was reexamined 6 months postsurgery, the ostrich was alert, in good health, and the surgical site completely healed. The owner verbally reported no recurrence of the phallus prolapse 1 year after surgery.

Toxoplasma gondii has a worldwide distribution with different genotypes reported in animals and humans. The parasite is of great importance to food production and public health, highlighted by the high diversity of hosts, i.e. ostriches. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection in ostriches from a Brazilian slaughterhouse, the genotype, and the associated risk factors. T. gondii antibodies were detected in 38/344 (11.05%) serum samples using the modified agglutination test using formalin-fixed tachyzoites (MAT-HS); the parasite was isolated from 14/38 (36.84%) ostrich brain samples using the mouse bioassay; and the DNA was detected from 25/38 (65.79%), using PCR. In farms, the water tank was considered the main risk factor (OR = 141.87; p-value < 0.05), and oocysts were detected in 30% (6/20) in soil of paddocks before animals were slaughtered (1st sampling), and 40% (8/20) one-year after (2nd sampling) using microscopy and PCR. Non-ostrich fecal samples on the ground resulted negative. Bioassay isolation was confirmed by PCR. All PCR positive samples were sequenced and resulted in 100% homology to Toxoplasma gondii repetitive DNA sequence (GenBank access number EF648168-1). These samples were also typed through RFLP-PCR using 11 markers: SAG1, SAG2 (5′–3′SAG2 and alt.SAG2), SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, L358, c22-8, c29-6, PK1, Apico and CS3. Two isolates had a complete genotype, typed from the ostrich tissue. In ostrich samples, the parasite load ranged from 19,043 (TgOsBr1, avirulent) to 54,829 parasites mL −1 (TgOsBr2, virulent) using qPCR, whereas soil samples ranged from 11 to 2,275 parasites mL −1 . Both typed isolates resulted on atypical clones, one previously reported to cause congenital toxoplasmosis in Brazilian patients (TgOsBr1, ToxoDB #206). Thus, these findings support the occurrence of T. gondii in slaughtered ostriches from Brazil, ostriches as sentinel for environmental contamination with T. gondii , the genotypic variability in Brazilian isolates, and the first isolation and genotyping of T. gondii from Brazilian slaughtered ostriches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to fit growth curves using nonlinear and linear functions to describe the growth of ostriches in a Brazilian popula-tion. The data set consisted of 112 animals with BW measurements from hatching to 383 d of age. Two non-linear growth functions (Gompertz and logistic) and a third-order polynomial function were applied. The parameters for the models were estimated using the least-squares method and Gauss-Newton algorithm. The goodness-of-fit of the models was assessed using R2 and the Akaike information criterion. The R2 calculat-ed for the logistic growth model was 0.945 for hens and 0.928 for cockerels and for the Gompertz growth model, 0.938 for hens and 0.924 for cockerels. The third-order polynomial fit gave R2 of 0.938 for hens and 0.924 for cockerels. Among the Akaike information criterion cal-culations, the logistic growth model presented the low-est values in this study, both for hens and for cockerels. Nonlinear models are more appropriate for describing the sigmoid nature of ostrich growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ostriches were imported to Brazil in the early 1990s without appropriate parasite control leading to a co-importation of parasites. Libyostrongylus douglassii, Libyostrongylus dentatus and Codiostomum struthionis are nematodes of the ostriches that have been reported on some Brazilian farms but no national survey has been performed. Moreover, little is known about anthelmintic usage to control these parasites in Brazil. Therefore, the occurrence of L. douglassii, L. dentatus and C. struthionis and the anthelmintic management practices in Brazilian ostrich farms were studied. A questionnaire about management practices and information on how to collect, store and ship feces to the laboratory were sent to 17 farms located in 9 Brazilian states. Received fecal samples were submitted to fecal cultivation and larval harvested. Infective larvae were morphologically analyzed and quantified. The majority of the farms (88%) used an anthelmintic at least once a year. Ivermectin was the principal anthelmintic. Libyostrongylus sp. and C. struthionis were found in samples from 76 and 18% of the examined farms, respectively. The presence of L. douglassii (61–97%) was higher than L. dentatus (3–57%) and C. struthionis (2–30%). At the farm level, both species of Libyostrongylus were always found together. Sheath tail measurements of their infective larvae were crucial for morphological diagnosis. L. dentatus and L. douglassii are well adapted to Brazil and are widely distributed in the Brazilian territory, proving that this mixed infection in Brazilian ostrich''s farms is common. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the last decade ostrich farms spread throughout the world as an alternative source of investment. Although previous studies have reported hematology and biochemical values for ostriches from several regions of the world, little information is available regarding leukocyte morphology. This study reports the morphology and ultrastructure of ostrich leukocytes and hematology and biochemical values from birds raised in Brazil. Heterophils presented a lobulated nucleus, and fusiform, and acidophilic and peroxidase-negative granules. Ultrastructurally, 2 kinds of cytoplasmic granules were observed: one was large and fusiform and the other smaller with heterogeneous morphology and electrondensity; granules were peroxidase-negative. Eosinophils had a kidney-shaped eccentrically placed nucleus that was rarely lobulated and eosinophilic, round, and peroxidase-positive granules. At the ultrastructure level, 2 main kinds of granules with the same size and form but different electron density were seen; granules were peroxidase-positive. Lymphocytes and thrombocytes had the same characteristics of other avian species; monocytes presented morphological heterogeneity. Hematological and serum biochemical profiles had no sex influence and were established for ostriches raised in southeastern Brazil. These parameters will help the diagnosis of specific ostrich pathologies and serve as basic knowledge for studies in immunology and comparative avian pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Domestic production of ostrich in Brazil started in the beginning of the last decade, but its sanitary state has not been reported. Libyostrongylus sp. is an ostrich specific nematode whose parasitism can severely affect the birds. Thus, Libyostrongylus spp. larvae were identified in commercial ostriches in the north region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The EPG was determined and fecal cultivation was performed. The eggs presented typical characteristics of strongylid and were present in five out of six farms. The mean EPG varied from 22 to 2395 and Libyostrongylus spp. prevalence was from 0 to 100%, with adult birds more infected. Two types of infective larvae with tail finishing in a tipped spiny knob were distinguished. The first had a mean length of 848μm (710–1010) with a long sheath tail of about 66μm (52–112). The other had a mean length of 826μm (620–940) with a short, more abruptly ending sheath tail of 32μm (22–40) and a less rounded cephalic end. The differences between these larvae suggest two Libyostrongylus species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]