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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]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Alkaline hydrolysis enhanced ACE inhibitory activity of ovalbumin ostrich egg white. • Try-Val has been further demonstrated a competitive inhibitory property. • Hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction stabilize the binding between YV and ACE. • Peptide showed non-toxicity to human red blood cells, HaCaT and MRC-5 cells. • Try-Val could be absorbed in human intestinal Caco-2 cells monolayer. Abstract In this research, ovalbumin (OOW), one of the major components in ostrich egg white, was purified by anion exchange chromatography. Then, the purified OOW was subjected to alkaline hydrolysis (0.25 M NaOH) at 40 °C for 2–10 h. The best angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was observed at 8 h of hydrolysis. The OOW hydrolysate obtained at 8 h (8 h-hOOW) was purified by the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The resulting peptide, YV, exhibited an IC 50 value of 63.97 μg/mL. Using a Lineweaver-Burk plot, YV was determined to be a competitive inhibitor, and the inhibition constant (K i) was found to be 55.20 μg/mL. The molecular docking analysis revealed that the binding between YV and the S1 and S2 pocket sites of ACE was mainly stabilized by a hydrogen bond. Moreover, YV maintained ACE inhibitory activity after gastrointestinal digestion and showed no cytotoxic effects on human red blood cells, human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) and human lung fibroblasts cells (MRC-5). An in vitro test of intestinal absorption showed that YV had a high potential for absorption into the Caco-2 cell monolayer model. Therefore, these results suggest that the YV peptide can be applied for the development of novel natural antihypertensive products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Razi Institute is the property of Institut Razi 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.)

Abstract Up-to-date the flavivirus infection in avian taxa is not clearly defined. Several reports have demonstrated that many viruses belonging to Flaviviridae may cause diseases in poultry species; however, the susceptibility of other avian species is variable and still unclear. In human and mice, the 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) proteins are associated with resistance to the flavivirus infection as well as other virus infections. However, the avian OAS proteins are rarely studied. In our previous studies, we confirmed that the chicken OAS-like protein (chOASL) expressed OAS-enzymatic activity (the classical OAS/RNase L-dependent pathway) as well as the anti-flavivirus activity (the putative OAS/RNase L-independent pathway). Therefore, the current study aimed at functional analysis of avian OAS proteins from duck, goose, and ostrich. The duOASL, goOASL, and osOAS1 proteins expressed enzymatic activity as well as chOASL, whereas osOASL expressed little enzymatic activity. On the other hand, duOASL, goOASL, and osOASL possessed significant antiviral activity against West Nile virus (WNV)-replicon replication as well as chOASL, whereas osOAS1 did not. In addition, similar to chOASL, their antiviral activity was independent of RNase L activation. These results suggest that OASL is the only OAS protein in the duck and goose as well as chicken and possesses both OAS-enzymatic and anti-flavivirus activities, whereas the ostrich possesses both OAS1 and OASL proteins with sharing the functional activities, OAS-enzymatic and anti-flavivirus activities, respectively. It is of interest that the ostrich undergoes differential process in OAS gene evolution from other poultries and thus possesses different molecular mechanism in antiviral activity. Highlights • OAS family genes were cloned from duck, goose, and ostrich. • OASL of the duck and goose possessed both enzymatic and anti-flavivirus activities. • Ostrich possessed OAS1 and OASL sharing enzymatic and anti-flavivirus activities. • It is of interest that ostrich undergoes differential process in OAS gene evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, made on adult ostrich specimens, has the purpose of identifying the main characteristics of the pelvic belt at this bird and was motivated by the desire to complete existing data and to present anatomic elements using the terminology recommended by the Nomina Anatomica Avium. A very strong connection has been noticed between the ilium and the sacrum, strengthened by the forging in the medial plane of the preacetabular parts of the ilium. This aspect is very different from the ischium, which turns from a wide bone at the rest of the species, into a strong long bone at the ostrich that, with the exception of the cranial extremity, is separated through a wide space from the ilium. The absence of well-known anatomical features of birds from other orders was noticed, such as : the ilio-caudal fossa, the iliac oblique crest, the infracristal cavity, etc while observing the existence of some specific features like an unique type of pubic symphysis. [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.)

The effects of water supplementation of chelated trace minerals (CTM, which is named Bonzaplex designed with chelate compounds technology) on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of minerals, and some blood metabolites, TM, and antioxidant enzyme values in African ostriches were investigated from 8 to 12 months of age. A total of 20 8-month-old ostriches (five birds in five replicate pens) was randomly allocated into one of the following four treatments: (1) control (basal diet + tap water), (2) low CTM (basal diet +100 mg/bird/day CTM powder in tap water), (3) medium CTM (basal diet +1 g/bird/day CTM powder in tap water), and (4) high CTM (basal diet +2 g/bird/day CTM powder in tap water). Compared with control, medium CTM improved (P < 0.05) daily weight gain and ATTD of phosphorous, zinc, and copper in 12-month-old ostriches. Furthermore, the feed conversion ratio was lower, and ATTD of magnesium was higher in the medium- and high-CTM groups than that in the control group (P < 0.05). At the end of the trial, ostriches receiving high-CTM treatment exhibited the lower (P < 0.05) serum triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and higher copper levels compared to those of the control treatment. Supplementation of higher amounts of CTM (medium and high CTM) also increased the activity of serum superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05). No differences were detected for other blood parameters including glucose, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, iron, magnesium, and glutathione peroxidase values. In conclusion, supplementation of CTM at the level of 1 g/bird/day to the drinking water can be recommended for improving growth performance, mineral absorption, and antioxidant status of ostriches fed diets containing the recommended levels of inorganic TM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in Babylon protected breeding and of Ostriches, hawks and deer for the purpose of the statement of the effect of different levels of flax seed oil in some qualitative characteristics of the eggs, the study included 27 Ostrich birds(18 females and 9 males), divided into three transactions with three replicates per treatment (each duplicate mentioned one male +2 females) which gave a total of 6 females+ 3males for each treatment, all the sexually birds were divided in pens designed specifically for repopulated, the experiment was divided into three transactions, TC (0% flax oil), T1 (1% flax oil), T2 (2 % flax oil), all the birds fed on a uniform diet along the breeding period of 20 weeks, containing 17.34% crude protein, and 2740.56 kilocalories metabolic energy / kg feed. The fodder was prepared from the local market in the Musayyib district, and the grains were harvested and mixed in the Babel Reserve for breeding and production of ostriches. falcons and deer in the orchard of the reserve. Flax oil was added to the diets with three concentrations (0, 1%, 2%). The results of the present study showed that the addition of flax oil in the above ratios improved the quality characteristics of the egg. The characteristics of the crust (crust thickness, shell weight, relative weight of the shell) were significantly higher when comparing the two additive treatments with the control treatment. control treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the lipid profile of 5 different edible tissues (leg, thigh, heart, gizzard, and liver) of ostrich was analyzed. Ostrich edible tissues presented a low fat content (<5 g/100 g wet basis). Gizzard and heart revealed the highest amounts of total cholesterol (1.77 and 1.47 mg/g wet basis, respectively), differing significantly from all other tissues (which averaged 0.95 mg/g wet basis). The main tocochromanol in all tissues was α-tocopherol (10.3 µg/g wet basis in heart and an average of 3.4 µg/g wet basis for all the remaining tissues). All the samples presented a fatty acid profile, dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (>38%), namely, linoleic and arachidonic acids. The leg presented simultaneously the highest PUFA/saturated fatty acids (SFA), the lowest n-6/n-3 ratios, and the most favorable lipid quality indices among all tissues in comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capture or exertion myopathy (CM) is an attendant complication of manual restraint in ratites, asides physical injuries that handlers may suffer. CM arises from a combination of stress and anaerobic glycolysis during handling. This work was carried out to restrain and immobilize two ostriches (Struthio camelus) in a bid to facilitate their clinical examination and transportation from one location to another, without subjecting the birds to capture myopathy that arises from the stress and exertion associated with physical restraint and capture. Two ostriches, male and female, weighing 120kg and 105kg respectively, were requested to be immobilized for relocation over a distance of 15 kilometres within Ibadan metropolis of Oyo State, Nigeria. The birds were fasted for 16 hours overnight and fed little amounts of feed mixed with diazepam at 3mg/kg. Mild sedation was achieved with diazepam after one hour. Samples for haematology and coprology were obtained. Ketamine at 10mg/kg was then administered intramuscularly. The birds were successfully transported. Complete recovery was 3 hours post administration of ketamine. We conclude that the diazepam and ketamine combination is generally safe to use for restraint and transportation of ratites and at the same time prevent the risk of capture myopathy. We suggest that the current dose of diazepam might need to be increased if the oral route is to be employed in order to shorten the onset of sedation and increase the depth of sedation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The ostrich is a cursorial bird with extraordinary speed and endurance, especially in the desert, and thus is an ideal large-scale animal model for mechanic study of locomotion on granular substrate. Methods The plantar pressure distributions of ostriches walking/running on loose sand/solid ground were recorded using a dynamic pressure plate. Results The center of pressure (COP) on loose sand mostly originated from the middle of the 3rd toe, which differed from the J-shaped COP trajectory on solid ground. At mid-stance, a high-pressure region was observed in the middle of the 3rd toe on loose sand, but three high-pressure regions were found on solid ground. The gait mode significantly affected the peak pressures of the 3rd and 4th toes (p = 1.5 × 10−6 and 2.39 × 10−8, respectively), but not that of the claw (p = 0.041). The effects of substrate were similar to those of the gait mode. Discussion Ground reaction force trials of each functional part showed the 3rd toe bore more body loads and the 4th toe undertook less loads. The pressure distributions suggest balance maintenance on loose sand was provided by the 3rd and 4th toes and the angle between their length axes. On loose sand, the middle of the 3rd toe was the first to touch the sand with a smaller attack angle to maximize the ground reaction force, but on solid ground, the lateral part was the first to touch the ground to minimize the transient loading. At push-off, the ostrich used solidification properties of granular sand under the compression of the 3rd toe to generate sufficient traction.

Even though specialty literature includes a series of publications regarding the muscles of pelvic limb of the African ostrich, there are still a couple of aspects that aren't entirely understood. Therefore, a series of differences in regards to the insertions of the pectineus muscle and ambiens muscle can be described, as well as the usage of different terminology for the identification of the cranial muscles of the thigh. This study, conducted on 10 african ostriches of different ages and sexes, realized through classic methods and macroscopic investigations, aims to conduct a detailed anatomization of pelvic muscles, more precisely of the muscles whose topography is adjacent to the pelvic region. The nomenclature used was in concordance with the Nomina Anatomica Avium 1993, although this study also suggests other naming options, which from our point of view better reflect the morphological and topographical realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is known as the most important causative agent of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis in human. According to recent studies, food animals, especially poultry, are known as carriers for toxin harboring C. difficile. Since ostrich farming is a growing industry in Iran, the characterization and genotyping of C. difficile isolates in ostriches are very important for public health. A total of 100 fecal samples were collected from 10 ostrich farms located in the north-east of Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. The samples were cultured anaerobically. Multiplex PCR was applied in order to detect tcdB, tcdA, cdtA and cdtB genes and 16S rDNA sequence, while single PCR was used to detect tcdC gene. Eleven fecal samples (11%) were suspected to contain C. difficile by growth pattern, colony morphology and Gram stain. Ten of the 11 suspected samples were later confirmed by 16s rDNA sequence PCR. In terms of toxin profile, five isolates (50%) were tcdA and tcdB positive, two (20%) were tcdA negative and tcdB positive, and the remaining three isolates were tcdA and tcdB negative. Also, 70% of the total isolates were tcdC positive and it was found that only strains harboring tcdA or tcdB were tcdC positive. In addition, all isolates lacked CDT producing gene (cdtA and cdtB). The findings of this study showed that ostrich might be a potential reservoir of C. difficile infection for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although consumption of eggs is an essential part of our diet, limited information is available for table eggs other than those laid by hens. The aim of our study was to determine concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like (DL-) and non-dioxin-like (NDL) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in ostrich eggs and meat available on the Polish market, in order to obtain baseline information on the current status of these pollutants in comparison to poultry products. Obtained data were compared with the binding EU limits set for chicken eggs and meat. The levels of individual PCDD/Fs and PCBs congeners varied considerably. The percentage share of total WHO toxic equivalency factor (WHO-TEQ) content indicates the dominant role of PCDD/Fs. High concentrations of PCDD/F and DL-PCBs, in the range of 0.85–74.48 pg WHO-TEQ g−1 fat, were found in ostrich eggs; this exceeds the maximum level permitted for chicken eggs by a factor of up to 15. Eight of the 11 egg samples exceeded the action level for hen eggs. Although the ostrich meat concentrations of PCDD/Fs do not exceed the limit established for poultry muscle (1.75 pg g−1 fat), average contents of PCDD/Fs exceeded almost four times the levels in chicken and turkey muscle. Human exposure was evaluated and the resulting risk was characterised. Taking into account the low average consumption of ostrich eggs, the resulting exposure to dioxins for the general population can be considered as negligibly low. However, the individuals who frequently consume such eggs may be at risk of elevated exposure. Although ostrich products are not consumed frequently, such data are nevertheless useful for food safety purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-year-old male ostrich ( Struthio camelus) presented with a rapidly growing soft tissue mass protruding from the ventromedial aspect of the right eye ( OD). The initial physical examination revealed a soft tissue mass attached to the medial inferior conjunctiva. The mass was excised with cryosurgery, and the conjunctival tissue margins were treated with cryoablation. Histopathological examination diagnosed granulomatous inflammation associated with scattered acid-fast bacteria. The ostrich recovered uneventfully and appeared healthy until recurrence of a grossly similar mass 2 months later. Gross examination revealed a botryoid mass attached to the inferior palpebral conjunctiva and extending onto the palpebral aspect of the nictitating membrane. Euthanasia was selected, and the histological diagnosis of the second mass was a mixed mucinous adenocarcinoma; however, no acid-fast bacteria were seen. Granulomatous conjunctival lesions have been previously described in the ostrich, while, to the authors' knowledge, neoplastic conjunctival lesions have not. Neoplasia should be considered as a differential diagnosis for a rapidly recurring, granulomatous conjunctival mass in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The offal (hearts, stomachs, and livers) of 24 African ostriches (Strutio camelus var. domesticus) from Polish farms were used in this study. Offal were taken directly from the production line; they were weighed and their water, fat, protein, ash and total collagen contents were determined. Ostrich hearts and stomachs were found to have high protein (18.1% and 19.0%, respectively) and low fat content (2.0% and 0.9%, respectively), typical of lean meat. Thus, the offal could be used in processed offal products or in pet food. Ostrich livers had slightly lower protein content (16.6%) and significantly higher and diverse fat content (4.4-28.4%). Heavier livers had significantly (P< 0.05) higher fat and lower protein, water, and ash content. The utilization of ostrich liver should be preceded by classification of its fat content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to develop a detailed and accessible set of reference images of the normal radiographic anatomy of the digits of the ostrich ( Struthio camelus), with emphasis on the metatarsophalangeal joint and its arthrography. The distal excised pelvic limbs of 10 normal ostriches of different ages (ranging from 10 to 365 days of age) obtained from an abattoir were radiographed, and 2 arthrograms were performed. To illustrate the normal radiographic anatomy of the tarsometatarsal bone, 39 images were selected, labelled, and presented along with detailed descriptions and corresponding images of the bony skeleton. These results provide a valuable dataset to assist in understanding the normal anatomy of the ostrich metatarsophalangeal joint and digits and allow comparison of abnormal corresponding structures in clinical cases in ostriches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional communities have been utilizing animal products for numerous purposes and have for a long time contributed to the accumulation of world knowledge. Local people in Tanzania and elsewhere in Africa, have been using birds including ostriches as pets or their products such as meat, eggs as food; their body parts such as feathers, bones and hide for ornaments but more importantly have used such products in traditional medicine and rituals. Nevertheless, there is a general lack of information about the differences that exist between local people with different cultures, and the best use of such products to improve their livelihoods. This study aimed to determine the use of ostrich products among people residing around Serengeti National Park and explore the potential of improving livelihoods through game ranching. Methods: Use of the products was compared between that of agriculturalists with long hunting traditions in the Serengeti District to the west of Serengeti National Park (SNP) and the largely pastoral community in the Ngorongoro District to the east by using semistructured questionnaires in June 2006. Results: A total of 115 respondents were interviewed, and the majority (74.5%) in the Serengeti district admitted that ostriches were mainly hunted for their products by snares, while in the Ngorongoro district, 98.2% of the respondents said that villagers only gathered products such as feathers and eggs. Ostriches were hunted for food, ornamentation, medical and economic purposes, and eggs and oil, which are believed to have medicinal properties, were used for the treatment of various ailments, including asthma. This indigenous knowledge of the medicinal value of ostrich products must be integrated with scientific knowledge to prove the supposed medical efficacy of the products. Ostrich products also had market value and were thus sold to the villagers. Conclusion: Since it has been found that ostrich products are commercially used, legal establishment of markets through game ranching, might improve local livelihood while simultaneously promoting the conservation of ostriches, whose populations are declining, by reducing hunting pressure. Ostrich farming and conservation education programs are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro production of germline chimeras and avian cloning may utilise the transfer of avian embryos from their original eggshell to a surrogate eggshell for culture during incubation. Such embryo transfer is valuable for avian cloning as the only alternative would be to transfer the cloned avian embryos into the infundibulum of recipient birds. Given the advances in paleogenomics, synthetic biology, and gene editing, a similar approach might be used to generate extinct species, i.e. de-extinction. One objective of the present research was to examine if ratite eggs could be manipulated via windowing and sham injection, similar to that which could allow for avian genome manipulation and subsequent development. The efficiency of interspecific avian embryo transfer using Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) donor eggs and Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) recipient eggshells was also investigated. Egg windowing and embryo transfer techniques utilised in the present research were adapted from those found in the scientific literature. Presumed fertile eggs from Rhode Island Red (n = 40), Silkie (n = 2), and White Leghorn Chickens (n = 18), Turkey (n = 48), Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) (n = 79), and Ostrich (Struthio camelus) (n = 89) were used in this research. Of the 41 Chicken eggs used for transfers into recipient Turkey eggshells, only one (2.4%) produced a chick. Of 31 windowed Emu eggs, one embryo survived for 25 d but no chicks were produced. Of 36 windowed Ostrich eggs, one embryo survived and hatched. The efficiency of the windowing and embryo transfers to produce chicks was low and further refinements are needed. Importantly, the results herein establish that manipulating ratite embryos is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed at investigating the pecten oculi of the ostrich by light and electron microscopy. The pecten oculi of 5 healthy adult ostriches, obtained from a slaughterhouse, constituted the material of the study. When examined macroscopically, the pecten oculi of the ostrich was observed to be a highly pigmented and relatively large fan-like shaped (vaned) structure consisting of approximately 20-24 folds. It was situated on the ventral surface of the eye and extended into the vitreous body. Light microscopic investigation revealed two or more blood vessels and numerous capillaries in each pecteneal fold. The capillaries had a thick basal lamina and numerous melanocytes and the pecten was surrounded by the vitreo-pecteneal limiting membrane. Hyalocytes were not observed outside of the vitreo-pecteneal membrane. At transmission electron microscopic (TEM) examination, endothelial cells were observed to possess a thin cytoplasm and the organelles were localized to the center of the cells. The capillary endothelium exhibited a large number of luminal and abluminal folds. Pericytes were seen lying beneath the basal lamina. In the present study, ostrich pecten oculi was examined by light and electron microscopic and compared with other poultry species and their differences were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A decade ago, reports that organic-rich soft tissue survived from dinosaur fossils were apparently supported by proteomics-derived sequence information of exceptionally well-preserved bone. This initial claim to the sequencing of endogenous collagen peptides from an approximately 68 Myr Tyrannosaurus rex fossil was highly controversial, largely on the grounds of potential contamination from either bacterial biofilms or from laboratory practice. In a subsequent study, collagen peptide sequences from an approximately 78 Myr Brachylophosaurus canadensis fossil were reported that have remained largely unchallenged. However, the endogeneity of these sequences relies heavily on a single peptide sequence, apparently unique to both dinosaurs. Given the potential for cross-contamination from modern bone analysed by the same team, here we extract collagen from bone samples of three individuals of ostrich, Struthio camelus. The resulting LC-MS/MS data were found to match all of the proposed sequences for both the original Tyrannosaurus and Brachylophosaurus studies. Regardless of the true nature of the dinosaur peptides, our finding highlights the difficulty of differentiating such sequences with confidence. Our results not only imply that cross-contamination cannot be ruled out, but that appropriate measures to test for endogeneity should be further evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Hatching success of ostrich eggs is poor (50–60% of fertile eggs). The current study was designed to identify the timing of key stages in the development of the ostrich embryo. 2. Growth of both embryo and wing length during 42 d of incubation was comparable and approximately linear, with a more or less weekly doubling in size up to 35 d of incubation. 3. The embryo eye size increased more rapidly than beak length and reached a maximum of ~16.2 mm by 28 d of incubation, whereas beak length increased continuously until hatching at 42 d. 4. Linear regression equations were derived from morphometric measurements of embryos between 7 and 42 d. 5. Information stemming from these results can be used to estimate the age of dead-in-shell embryos in an attempt to identify timing of incubation problems that potentially result in low hatchability of fertile eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Cahiers Victoriens & Edouardiens is the property of Presses Universitaires de la Mediterranee 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.)

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.

Objective- To investigate histological structure of Ostrich skin was done. Ostrich leathers are of exotic leather types, which are in increasing demand due to their outstanding natural gain patterns formed by large feather follicles on the leather surface. Animals-Ten mature ostriches were selected from ostrich breeding center in Jupar, Kerman, Iran, all of which were in good shape and healthy condition. Procedure- For this study, some samples of ostrich skin were made from ostriches aged about 1 year old.0.5 * 0.5 cm sample of different areas of skin was made and kept in 10% formalin solution for 7 days; then, the samples were taken out. Routine histological techniques were done and 6 micron-thickness sections were cut. The sections were stained with standard Haematoxilin and Eosin (H&E) and masson trichrome and Periodic acid-Sciff(pas). The histological study was done using a light microscope and the photographs were taken for detailed illustration of the results. Results- Microscopic studies showed that the skin consisted of 2 different layers as epidermis and dermis. Epidermis consisted of the following different groups of cells, form depth to surface: basal cell – granular cell – chondrocyte shape cells and keratin cells. Dermis consisted of a dense connective tissue with both regular and irregular fibers in which the irregular part was near the epidermis. Conclusions and clinical relevance- The results of this study suggested that ostrich’s skin in either dermis or epidermis is very different from other domesticated animals; and the development of dermal connective tissue makes this skin a good model for studying wound healing and skin grafting.

In order to perform a histomorphometric study of blood cells in male adult ostrich, blood samples were obtained from jugular vein of 10 clinically healthy male adult ostriches (2 - 3 years old). The slides were stained with the Giemsa methods and the smears were evaluated for cellular morphology, with cellular size being determined by micrometry. The findings of this study revealed that the shape of the cell, cytoplasm and nucleus of erythrocytes in male adult ostriches were similar to those in other birds such as quails, chickens, Iranian green-head ducks.

Rock-pecked images from the northern Mongolian Altai attest to the presence of human communities within the high valleys of that region during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene. The material provides evidence that is hitherto largely missing from the archaeological record of that region. This paper reviews the rock art, its find sites and larger physical contexts and uses evidence from paleoenvironmental studies to propose dating and cultural significance. The material is compared with other sites said to have Paleolithic imagery from Mongolia and the adjoining Russian Altai. The body of presented material offers a major resource for the study of early hunter-gatherer communities at the interface of Central and North Asia.

Heart anatomy in the ostrich has been reported, but there are few information on the histological features of the atrioventricular valves. Hearts of young ostriches were fixed in 10% formaldehyde for 24 h and dissected to characterize their macroscopic anatomy. Samples of valves were harvested and stained with Mallory’s trichrome, Gomori’s trichrome, and Picro-Sirius red, for later analysis. The right atrioventricular valve consists of a muscle flap with two fixations. The left atrioventricular valve consists of two layers of endocardium with a layer of connective tissue between them. The free border of the tricuspid valve supports a varying number of chordae tendineae. One of the cusps is attached to the septum, while the other two cusps are attached to the opposite wall. The aortic valve, as well as the pulmonary trunk valve, consists of three cusps. The right atrioventricular valve showed up only as a muscle flap of myocardium coated with a thin layer of dense connective tissue, with two fixations. In the connective tissue, we find a predominance of type I collagen fibers and a lesser amount of type III, with a small presence of elastic fibers. The presence of Purkinje fibers were also usual in the valvular subendocardium, suggesting that they directly participate in the transmission of nervous stimulation to the muscle fibers within the valves. The left atrioventricular valve consisted of 3 cusps, a dorsal, a left, and a right.

The ostrich is a highly cursorial bipedal land animal with a permanently elevated metatarsophalangeal joint supported by only two toes. Although locomotor kinematics in walking and running ostriches have been examined, these studies have been largely limited to above the metatarsophalangeal joint. In this study, kinematic data of all major toe joints were collected from gaits with double support (slow walking) to running during stance period in a semi-natural setup with two selected cooperative ostriches. Statistical analyses were conducted to investigate the effect of locomotor gait on toe joint kinematics. The MTP3 and MTP4 joints exhibit the largest range of motion whereas the first phalangeal joint of the 4th toe shows the largest motion variability. The interphalangeal joints of the 3rd and 4th toes present very similar motion patterns over stance phases of slow walking and running. However, the motion patterns of the MTP3 and MTP4 joints and the vertical displacement of the metatarsophalangeal joint are significantly different during running and slow walking. Because of the biomechanical requirements, osctriches are likely to select the inverted pendulum gait at low speeds and the bouncing gait at high speeds to improve movement performance and energy economy. Interestingly, the motions of the MTP3 and MTP4 joints are highly synchronized from slow to fast locomotion. This strongly suggests that the 3rd and 4th toes really work as an “integrated system” with the 3rd toe as the main load bearing element whilst the 4th toe as the complementary load sharing element with a primary role to ensure the lateral stability of the permanently elevated metatarsophalangeal joint.

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.

The effect of extensive human presence and regular gentle handling performed at an early age (0–3 months old) on stress responses and reactivity of juvenile ostriches towards humans was investigated. A total of 416 ostrich chicks over two years were exposed to one of three treatments for three months after hatching; namely, Human Presence 1 (HP1, N = 144): extensive/prolonged human presence with physical contact (touch, stroking), gentle human voice, and visual stimuli; Human Presence 2 (HP2, N = 136): extensive/prolonged human presence without physical contact, but with gentle human voice and visual stimuli; and the Standard treatment (S, N = 136): human presence limited to routine feed and water supply as a control. At 7.5 months of age, the plasma heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio was measured before and 72 h after feather harvesting and feather clipping to determine acute stress responses, while chronic stress was measured by quantification of corticosterone (CORT) concentrations in the floss feathers of the birds. Birds’ behavioural response towards a familiar or an unfamiliar handler was evaluated at 12 months using docility and fear tests, and through behavioural observations conducted on random days between the ages of 8–13 months. Willingness to approach, and to allow touch interactions, aggressiveness, and exhibition of sexual display towards the handler, was recorded. No difference in the H/L ratios before and after feather harvesting and clipping was observed in HP1 birds, whereas H/L ratios showed a significant increase 72 h post feather harvesting and clipping in HP2 and S birds (p < 0.05). Birds from the S treatment exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) higher feather CORT concentration compared with HP1 birds, while HP2 birds had intermediate responses. Birds’ reactivity towards humans and temperament as evaluated using behavioural observations, docility, and fear tests was not affected by treatment (p > 0.05). However, HP1 and HP2 birds were more inclined (p < 0.05) to approach a familiar rather than an unfamiliar handler during the behavioural observations, indicating an ability to distinguish between a familiar and an unfamiliar handler. Overall, the results indicate that early gentle human interactions with ostrich chicks can be beneficial in reducing physiological stress sensitivity later in life and facilitate the ability of ostriches to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar handlers.

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.

Ratite farming of has expanded worldwide. Due to the intensive farming methods used by ratite producers, preventive medicine practices should be established. In this context, the surveillance and control of some avian pathogens are essential for the success of the ratite industry; however, little is known on the health status of ratites in Brazil. Therefore, the prevalence of antibodies against Newcastle Disease virus, Chlamydophila psittaci, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, and Salmonella Pullorum were evaluated in 100 serum samples collected from commercial ostriches and in 80 serum samples from commercial rheas reared in Brazil. All sampled animals were clinically healthy. The results showed that all ostriches and rheas were serologically negative to Newcastle disease virus, Chlamydophila psittaci, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and Mycoplasma synoviae. Positive antibody responses against Salmonella Pullorum antigen were not detected in ostrich sera, but were detected in two rhea serum samples. These results can be considered as a warning as to the presence of Salmonella spp. in ratite farms. Therefore, the implementation of good health management and surveillance programs in ratite farms may contribute to improve not only animal production, but also public health conditions.

Abstract Ostrich (Struthio camelus) breeds have been gaining increasing significance around the world. Also, ostrich farming has been dramatically increasing in Iran. In many bird species, it is very difficult to distinguish between males and females based on an analysis of their external morphology, especially in young birds. The objective of this study was to identify and develop DNA markers that can be used for sex determination in ostrich using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. DNA was isolated from blood and feather samples of male and female ostriches (20 cases). PCR reaction was performed by a set of specific W-link primers. The results showed an amplified fragment, about 648 bp for females and no amplified PCR product for male ostriches. This method is a fast, accurate and inexpensive procedure for large scale sex typing of ostriches.

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.

The histological aspects of the gastrointestinal tract of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) have been little studied, so this research is focused on such analysis. To this end, samples were obtained from different segments of the digestive tubes of five young ostriches aged 20 to 30 days. Based on the results, the authors conclude that the different segments of the digestive tube of the young ostrich presents the same general structure as that of other domestic birds and mammals, with some differences that may be due to age, the species involved, or feeding habits. It is hopes that this analysis will contribute to a better understanding of the physiological processes related to the nutrition and management of ostriches during their growth.

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.

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.

Tres grupos de bacterias compiten por hidrógeno en diferentes ecosistemas anaerobios, y junto con CO 2 , producen metano, sulfuro dehidrógeno y acetato. Estas reacciones representan ganancia de energía al animal. Motivo por el cual, el presente trabajo pretende evaluar la presencia y tamaño de poblaciones de bacterias utilizadoras de hidrógeno en el tracto gastrointestinaldel avestruz. Para ello se utilizaron medios AC11 para acetogénicas, Potgate para sulfato-reductoras y Fosfato buffer para metanogénicas. Las poblaciones se determinaron por el método del número más probable (NMP). El diseño fue completamente al azar, con arreglo factorial, A = porciones del tracto digestivo y B = microorganismo. El NMP, de acetogénicas y metanogénicas fue cero. Las bacterias sulfato-reductoras están presentes en todo el tracto gastrointestinal. Las poblaciones fueron 544.00; 532.00; 157.20; 155.32 y 76.48 x 10/ 6 para el intestino grueso, ciegos, intestino delgado, proventrículo y ventrículo, respectivamente. Los resultados confirman presencia y predominio de las sulfato-reductoras en todas las porciones del tracto gastrointestinal del Struthio camelus. La producción de AGV en el tracto gastrointestinal del avestruz, es producto del metabolismo y reutilización del hidrógeno por bacterias sulfato-reductoras.

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 W5/W7 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.

This study investigated the effect of human-ostrich interactions at an early age on behavioural responses towards humans later in life, as well as computed genetic parameters for behavioural responses towards humans. Responses recorded were a willingness to approach a human handler, allowing touch interactions with the handler, keeping a distance from the handler, wing flapping and excessive pecking directed at the handler at flock level. Ostrich chicks were exposed to human voice, gentle touch and visual interactions (HP1), to human voice and visual interaction only, without touch interactions (HP2), and limited human interactions (only daily provision of food and water and handling for routine husbandry practices; standard and foster). Foster chicks were reared by a breeding pair, while the general chick rearing practice at the farm was used for standard chicks. Behavioural responses to humans were subsequently investigated on 1 092 ostriches between the ages of 8–19 months. HP1 and HP2 birds were more inclined to approach the handler and allow touch interactions, while a lower number of birds from these treatments distanced themselves from the handler, compared to those that had limited interactions with humans. Males were more likely to approach, allow touch interactions, and engage in wing flapping, while they were also less likely to keep a distance from the handler than females. HP1 and HP2 birds were more likely to interact with, and less likely to distance themselves from a familiar than an unfamiliar handler. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.15 (wing flapping and excessive pecking) to 0.38 (approach and keeping a distance). Repeatability estimates ranged from 0.33 (wing flapping) to 0.55 (approach and keeping a distance). Human-ostrich interactions can thus be improved by integrating extensive human presence and regular gentle handling in the husbandry practices for ostrich chicks. Selection of breeder birds with a desirable temperament will fast-track domestication in this recently domesticated species. [Display omitted] • Genetic and environmental parameters for farmed ostrich behaviour towards humans were estimated. • Ostriches exposed to human presence and interactions as chicks were inclined to associate with humans at a later stage of life. • Birds demonstrated more interest to associate with a familiar rather than an unfamiliar handler. • Behavioural responses towards humans were heritable and repeatable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]