Ostrich Research Articles

Age-related characteristics of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system of ostriches (Struthio camelus domesticus)

We studied the intensity of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the status of antioxidant system in blood of 6-60 months ostriches. We proved that specific functioning of the antioxidant system and the accumulation of lipid peroxidation intermediates characterized each period of ostrich life cycle. Thus, the period of puberty was accompanied by intensification of lipid peroxidation in ostrich blood serum and this was confirmed by a significant increase in the amount of TBA-reactive substances. This could be the consequence of the insufficient activity of enzymes of the antioxidant system (catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase). The egg-laying peak was characterized by the increased body metabolism, which caused the activation of free-radical oxidation. The concentration of lipid hydroperoxides and diene conjugates increased and the TBA-reactive substances did not change significantly. Antioxidant protection of the blood during this period was mainly caused by the significant concentration of ceruloplasmin and reduced glutathione due to the increased activity of glutathione reductase. We supposed that the period of puberty and intensive period of egg laying in ostriches should be referred as the periods of stress of metabolic processes with increased intensity of lipid oxidation, associated with the certain changes in ostrich physiological and functional state.

Bionic design in anti-bending and lightweight tube based on the tarsometatarsus of ostrich

When ostrich (Struthio camelus) runs, its tarsometatarsus swings at a high frequency and has a small mass but can carry the weight of the whole body, which is enough to indicate that tarsometatarsus has the lightweight and anti-bending properties. The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that there were no significant differences in the microstructure of different locations of tarsometatarsus. The compression test was performed, and the average compressive strength of the specimens at each sampling location was obtained. The results showed that the compressive strength of the tarsometatarsus in inside and outside orientations is smaller than that in front and back orientations. Therefore, the superior load-carrying capacity of tarsometatarsus is related to its morphological structure. Based on the morphological and structural characteristics of ostrich tarsometatarsus, the bionic tube was designed, and three kinds of tubes were designed as the control. Further, the finite element analysis of the anti-bending property of the four tubes was performed under static load. The result indicated that the bionic tube had lower mass and higher specific stiffness structural efficiency, and the result of the simulation was verified by the cantilever compression test.

Normal anatomical and diagnostic imaging techniques of the musculotendinous structures of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) foot.

Objective:The objective of this work was to study the normal musculotendinous structures of the ostrich foot.Materials and methods:Ten African apparent healthy adult female ostriches (Struthio camelus) were slaughtered, and the pelvic limbs were separated from the ankle joint. The different biomedical scanning techniques including radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography were achieved. Then, the ostrich feet were freshly dissected.Results:The radiographs and CT images showed the bony components of the ostrich foot that revealed the presence of long tarsometatarsus and phalanges of the only developed third and fourth toes. The third digit was the longest and possessed four phalanges, whereas the shorter fourth toe contained five phalanges. The ostrich foot consisted mainly of tendons in addition to several small associated muscles. The extensor structures were the extensor digitorum longus tendon, Mm. extensor proprius digiti III, and extensor brevis digiti III and IV. On the other hand, the flexor structures were the flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, flexor perforans et perforatus digiti III, and flexor perforatus digiti III and IV tendons. Furthermore, fibularis longus tendon and two muscles (Mm. abductor digiti IV and lumbricalis) were related to the flexor tendons.Conclusion:The combination between the dissecting anatomy and the different biomedical scanning techniques was of value in describing the normal anatomical course of the musculotendinous structures of the ostrich foot, which aids in the diagnosis of any clinical abnormalities in these structures.

Tributaries of the hepatic vein in the ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Abstract The ostrich (Struthio camelus, Linnaeus 1758) is the largest bird in the world. It is of great economic importance in Africa and is found across several countries. With developments in breeding systems, morphological studies that facilitate the application of the knowledge are necessary, considering the species has unique anatomical features. The objective of the present study was to describe the major tributaries of the hepatic vein in the species. Ten viscera of adult individuals of both sexes, which were injected with Neoprene latex through the hepatic vein, were used to visualize their tributaries. After the vascular repletion, the tissues were fixed and conserved in 10% formaldehyde aqueous solution. The hepatic carrier system was dissected and photo-documented. The left hepatic vein receives blood from the proventricle and gastric ventricle, while the right hepatic vein is responsible for the drainage of blood into the following organs: spleen, through the proventriculosplenic vein; pancreas, through the pancreaticoduodenal vein; jejunum, through the jejunum trunk; and the colon, which forms the cranial mesenteric vein.

Fibrosarcoma in the hock joint of an ostrich (Struthio camelus) - A case report

A one-year old female ostrich (Struthio camelus) was presented for surgical excision with the history of growth near left hock joint (ankle) and progressively increasing in size. The tumorous mass was surgically excised after sedation and local infiltrative anesthesia. Histopathological examination of the mass revealed a large number of fibrocytes and fibroblasts arranged in an irregular manner accompanied with high degree of neovascularisation. Few areas also showed infiltration of inflammatory cells, degenerative fibroblast cells, high mitotic figures and extensive local invasion to surrounding soft tissues. These features were indicative of clear malignancy and condition was diagnosed as a case of fibrosarcoma.

The effect of dietary energy and protein level on feather, skin and nodule growth of the ostrich (Struthio camelus).

Accurate diet formulations are required to fulfil the nutrient requirements of birds in order to achieve optimal production. Knowing how the skin, nodule and feather production characteristics vary with diets of different nutrient densities will help in least-cost modelling. Feather growth and nodule development are factors that were previously neglected in ostrich diet formulation, both of which are essential for the development of a predictive production model. In this trial, 120 birds were placed in 15 pens. Varying energy regimes (high, medium and low) and accompanying protein and amino acid profile levels (level 1–5) were assigned ad libitum to each pen. A randomly selected bird from each pen was slaughtered at 1, 35, 63, 103, 159, 168 and 244 days of age. During the slaughter, each bird was weighed, stunned, exsanguinated, defeathered and eviscerated. Feathers from four regions of the skin were plucked and weighed. The shaft diameter of the wing feathers was measured. The nodule size of the tanned skin was measured for each slaughter age. The data were transformed to natural logarithms and regressed against the total feather weight and the total featherless empty body protein weight to set up allometric growth equations. A prediction equation to determine nodule size of the live bird was proposed. Feed cost optimisation is paramount, and results from this study will aid in setting up least-cost optimisation (simulation) formulation models.

Clinical, pathologico-anatomic and mycological studies of aspergillosis in ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Clinical, pathologico-anatomic and mycological studies of aspergillosis in ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Flow-cytometric method for rapid determination of sperm viability and acrosome integrity in Ostrich semen (Struthio camelus)

Flow-cytometric method for rapid determination of sperm viability and acrosome integrity in Ostrich semen (<i>Struthio camelus</i>)

Isolation and characterization of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Vietnam.

Background and Aim:Clostridium perfringens can cause enteritis in ostriches. The toxin release is believed to play a major role in determining pathogenesis properties of these pathogenic bacteria. This study was conducted to isolate and characterize C. perfringens strains from ostriches in Vietnam for identifying if particular virulence factors of these pathogenic bacteria are associated with enteritis progress in ostriches.Materials and Methods:The prevalence of cpa, cpb, iA, etx, cpe, and cpb2 genes among C. perfringens isolates was determined by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The NetB toxin-encoding gene was detected by PCR and then sequenced to observe their variation. The expression of NetB toxin was checked by SDS-PAGE.Results:A total of 116 C. perfringens isolates were obtained from 318 fecal samples and 105 intestinal organs. Of 80 isolates from fecal samples, 33 isolates were from healthy and 47 isolates were from diseased ostriches. The results of multiplex PCR showed that all 116 C. perfringens strains from healthy and enteric disordered ostriches were positive for the alpha toxin-encoding gene (cpa). The cpe and cpb2 genes were found in only one and five diseased ostriches, respectively. The netB gene was detected in 1/33 (3.03%) C. perfringens isolates from healthy ostriches, in 8/47 (17.05%) isolates from feces, and in 7/36 (19.44%) intestinal contents of diseased ostriches. The full-length sequences of 5 out of 15 netB-positive isolates from diseased ostriches showed 100% identity to each other as well as to the netB sequences available in GenBank. All of these five isolates produced NetB toxin in vitro.Conclusion:Type A is the most prevalent among C. perfringens isolates from ostriches in Vietnam. Especially, the study provides data emphasizing the role of NetB toxin in causing necrotic enteritis by C. perfringens in ostriches.

Responses of Captive Ostrich Struthio camelus to Zoo Visitors at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal

Responses of Captive Ostrich Struthio camelus to Zoo Visitors at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal

History and Current Situation of Commercial Ostrich Farming in Mexico.

History and Current Situation of Commercial Ostrich Farming in Mexico.

Mycoplasma nasistruthionis sp. nov. and Mycoplasma struthionis sp. nov. isolated from ostriches with respiratory disease

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

The study of chemical content and physicochemical properties of ostrich (Struthio camelus) fat (local)

The study contains the description of the ostrich fat by estimating the chemical content, which included moisture, protein, fat, ash, cholesterol, minerals and lipid-soluble vitamins, including vitamin (E andA) and the estimation of lipoproteins. Chemical properties were also studied which include peroxide value (PV), free fatty acids (FFA), saponification number (SN), iodine number and Physical properties include viscosity, density and specific gravity, refractive index, melting point and ester value (EV). Fatty acids were identified by using gas chromatography (GC). The results showed the percentage of moisture, protein, fat and ash were 5.56%, 5.16%, 87.88% and 1.03%, respectively. The mineral includes sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and selenium reach to 8.5, 2.5, 40.11, 12.96, 78.6, 0.532 and 7.86 ppm respectively, cholesterol content was 50.63 mg / 100 g, vitamins content A and E was recorded 72.13 and 91.30 mg / ml respectively. The fat has good chemical and physical properties, such as viscosity, density and specific gravity, refractive index, melting point, saponification number, iodine number and ester value. While the results of lipoproteins in the ostrich fat HDL was 65 mg / dl, LDL 52 mg / dl and VLDL 35 mg / dl and triglycerides reach to 75 mg / dl. The peroxide number was 0.86 equivalent Meq O2 / Kg, and the percentage of the free fat acids reach to 0.38%. The fatty acid compassion was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and also showed nine saturated and unsaturated fatty acids including oleic acid, palmitic acid, arachidonic acid, erucic acid, heneicosanoic acid, undecanoic acid, lauric acid, caproic acid and myristic acid.

Chemical Indicators of Ostrich Struthio camelus Linnaeus, 1758 Meat Burger Prepared by Adding Different Fat Levels During Frozen Storage

This study included preparation of ostrich meat burger with different levels of ostrich fat. The first treatment was free-fat and the second treatment 5% fat, the third treatment was 10% fat, the fourth and the fifth was 15% and 20% respectively and stored in 18 ± 2 co for 120 days. Changes in chemical indicators were studied including peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), free fatty acids (FFA) and total volatile nitrogen (TVN) during storage periods 1, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. The results showed that there is significantly increased (P &lt;0.05) in PV, TBA and FFA by increasing the fat levels and the storage periods while TVN decreased by increasing fat levels and increased storage periods.

Prevalence of Anti–Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Ratites from Brazil

The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was investigated among 104 ratites: 68 rheas (Rhea americana), 16 emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae), and 20 ostriches (Struthio camelus) in 4 Brazilian states. The prevalence in rheas was 26.5% (18 of 68), and titers were 1:100 (n = 8), 1:200 (n = 1), 1:400 (n = 4), 1:800 (n = 4), and 1:1,600 (n = 1). In emus, the prevalence was 50% (8 of 16), and titers were 1:50 (n = 1) and 1:100 (n = 7). The ostriches were slaughtered for human consumption, and 80% (16 of 20) were seropositive with titers of 1:200 (n = 1), 1:400 (n = 9), and 1:800 (n = 6). Sera were tested with a modified agglutination test, and the results confirmed the distribution of the parasite in ratite species from Brazil. The data obtained in this study show that T. gondii is prevalent among ratites from Brazil, and therefore ratite meat should also be considered a potential source of human infection. This is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in emus.

OSTRICH BREEDING IN CHINA

Ostrich (Struthio camelus) has become one of the valuable agricultural enterprises in many countries of the world. China has become Asian's number one ostrich species raiser with about 20,000 ostrich bred farms. China started in 1992 to import some ostrich species from South Africa. Ostrich was raised globely since the 1980s for its feathers, meat, egg, hair and bone are all of high economic value. China's progress in producing ostriches has improved it's rank from fifth to the second globely in recent years, due to the following factors: The area of pastures which reached 40% of the area of ​​China.Large amounts of agricultural wasts. China has been producing iron and thus has produced the cheapest agricultural machines, such as irrigation machines, cutting and pressing the feed. China achieved progress in the electronical industries which have enabled it to produce hatchery machines to promote the poultry industry .China is making use of solar energy and producing cheap energy used to irrigate agricultural land and operate farm machinery. Thus, the price of feed is cheap and therefore it costs to feed the ostriches as little as possible.Use of seawater desalination technology and cultivation of saline-tolerant fodder crops such as fodder beat, bonicam and blubank .The use of leather processing tectology and production of the finest leather industries of shoes and bags .China has imported large amounts of ostriches from South Africa and used the best breeding and ostrich production systems in South Africa. The most important factors leading to the success of the ostrich industry in china are limited into three factors. First: Nutrition and cheap feed should be provided by planting enough alfalfa. Using solar energy to irrigate these lands. Sowing saline and drought tolerant genotypes, such as blubanks and bonecam, as well as machines for cutting and making pellet for green feed. Second: Hatching Third: Health.

What Do You Know About Truffles

Truffle is the most expensive mushroom in the world (its price is more expensive than ostriches). The truffle of manna and its healing of the eye)..

Endoparasitism of Greek ostriches: First report of Entamoeba struthionis and Balantioides coli.

Ostrich farming is a worldwide practice and an internationally developing industry. Among challenges in livestock production are the parasitic infections. The present study aimed to the investigation of the gastrointestinal parasites biota and prevalence in ostriches raised in different areas of Greece. A total of 141 clinically healthy ostriches originating from four different localities of Greece were coprologically examined for parasites of the gastrointestinal tract. Coprological examination revealed a considerably high rate of infection (65.9%) with protozoa; however, no helminths (trematodes, cestodes and nematodes) were detected. In detail, cysts of Entamoeba struthionis have been found in 57.4% of the examined birds. Moreover, 39.0% of sampled ostriches harboured cysts of Balantioides coli (syn. Balantidium coli), while oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. were detected at a low percentage (2.1%). Partial sequences of the small subunit rRNA (16S rRNA) gene and the ITS region were amplified from pooled Entamoeba and Balantioides positive samples, respectively, confirming for the first time the presence of Entamoeba struthionis and Balantioides coli in ostriches in Greece. Some of these parasitoses require attention as they may affect productivity performance of the animals in commercial ostrich farming and possibly pose disease risk for livestock and humans.

Computational approach to evaluating the strength of eggs: Implications for laying in organic egg production

With the aim of characterising the different stress patterns in several egg types and evaluating the resistivity of the eggshell while impacting in free fall, experimental tests and computational simulations have been performed on eggs of the species Gallus gallus (domestic hen), Struthio camelus (ostrich), and Testudo sp. (tortoise). The different types of failure were determined for each taxa and stress distribution maps were recorded and correlated between experimental results and simulations using finite element analysis (FEA). For domestic hens, the numerical results obtained in both tests have highly correlation with the results obtained in previous works; for ostrich ( S. camelus ) and tortoise ( Testudo sp.) eggshells, this new data represented a useful tool to understand in further works the failure mechanisms of the eggshells. More interestingly, the present study provides the first empirical and mathematic results that allow confident safety intervals to be established that relate to the laying process in the poultry industry. • Understand the mechanical of eggshells are crucial for egg production. • Eggshell resistivity is evaluated using both empirical and computational tests. • Newly classification of failure helps to understand failure mechanisms. • For first time, ostrich and turtle eggshell mechanics are provided. • Results set relationships between impact velocity, substrate, and type of failure.

Comparative morphological studies of the pelvic limb bones in ostrich (Struthio camelus), emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) and duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)

Morphological and morphometrical study of pelvic limb bones from adult birds viz., ostrich (n=4), emu (n=6), domestic fowl (n=8) and duck (n=8) were carried out. Pubic symphysis was a distinctive feature of os coxae in ostrich. Medial surface of ilium was united to lumbosacral mass in ostrich and emu, whereas, only medial border made fusion in domestic fowl and duck. Post acetabular ilium was an elongated triangle in ostrich and emu, whereas, quadrilateral plate in domestic fowl and duck. Iliac fossae for kidneys were lacking in ostrich and emu. Ischium was a long rod in ostrich and emu. Ilio-ischiatic notch was present in ostrich and emu, while, ilio-ischiatic foramen was found in domestic fowl and duck. Caudal extremity of pubis was free in all the species studied excluding ostrich. Ostrich and emu exhibited a distinct pneumatic foramen on femur which was lacking in domestic fowl and duck. Length ratio of femur to tibiotarsus was 1:1.75, 1:1.88, 1:1.38 and 1:1.69 in ostrich, emu, domestic fowl and duck correspondingly. Lateral cnemial crest was a large tuberosity in ostrich; whereas, in other species it was a thick curved spine. Hypotarsus was in the form of spine in ostrich and emu. Bony spur of tarsometatarsus observed in male domestic fowl was lacking in the other species. Distal extremity showed two trochleae in ostrich, whereas, three trochleae, in the other species. Ostrich is the only didactyl bird with two digits. Emu possessed three digits, while, domestic fowl and duck possessed four. Our present study revealed pneumatic femur, longer tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus and less number of digits in ostrich and emu. Reduction in number of phalanges also led to reduce the number of muscles and tendons associated to digits. The above mentioned features may aid ostrich and emu for high-speed locomotion.