Ostrich Research Articles

Liquid storage of Ostrich (Struthio camelus) semen at 5 °C through intermediate dilution

Dilution rate, dilution temperature and storage time have been recognized as vital steps in the processing of semen for storage before artificial insemination. The objective of this study was to determine optimal dilution and dilution temperature with an ostrich-specific semen extender for chilled storage. Four preselected ostrich (Struthio camelus var. domesticus) males, known for their ease of collection and specific semen quality parameters, were collected using the “dummy” female method. Dilution of 384 semen samples, at rates of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and 1:8 semen/diluent ratio with a diluent set at 5, 21 and 38 °C was performed and stored for 48 h at 5 °C. In vitro sperm function tests were conducted to evaluate treated semen during different storage intervals of 1, 5, 24 and 48 h. Motility and kinematic parameters were measured by the Sperm Class Analyzer®, the percentage live sperm measured by fluorescence SYBR14®/PI (LIVE/DEAD®), the percentage of sperm able to resist the hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) stress test and sperm morphology determined by Nigrosin-Eosin staining. Progressive motility (PMOT), motility (MOT), sperm kinematics, LIVE and HOS were best (P < 0.05) maintained at a higher dilution of 1:4–1:8. The beneficial effect (P < 0.05) of a higher dilution temperature (21 °C) was prominent in terms of PMOT at a higher dilution. Storage of chilled semen at 5 °C requires dilution, at interpolated rates of 1:6–1:7, together with an extender temperature of 21 °C, to maintain optimal sperm function with minimal loss over a 48 h storage period.

Experimental evidence that group size generates divergent benefits of cooperative breeding for male and female ostriches.

Cooperative breeding allows the costs of parental care to be shared, but as groups become larger, such benefits often decline as competition increases and group cohesion breaks down. The counteracting forces of cooperation and competition are predicted to select for an optimal group size, but variation in groups is ubiquitous across cooperative breeding animals. Here, we experimentally test if group sizes vary because of sex differences in the costs and benefits of cooperative breeding in captive ostriches, Struthio camelus, and compare this to the distribution of group sizes in the wild. We established 96 groups with different numbers of males (1 or 3) and females (1, 3, 4, or 6) and manipulated opportunities for cooperation over incubation. There was a clear optimal group size for males (one male with four or more females) that was explained by high costs of competition and negligible benefits of cooperation. Conversely, female reproductive success was maximised across a range of group sizes due to the benefits of cooperation with male and female group members. Reproductive success in intermediate sized groups was low for both males and females due to sexual conflict over the timing of mating and incubation. Our experiments show that sex differences in cooperation and competition can explain group size variation in cooperative breeders.

Borrelia spirochetes in European exotic farm animals.

Ticks transmit a broad spectrum of pathogens, threatening both animal and human health. Tick survival and proliferation are strongly dependent on host selection and suitability. The hard tick Ixodes ricinus, which is widespread throughout most of Europe, is a host generalist capable of feeding on many different vertebrate species. Pasture-kept exotic farm animals may be at a high risk for tick and tick-borne pathogens infestations but research characterizing this is currently lacking. This study focused on the detection of Borrelia spirochetes (including Borrelia miyamotoi) in exotic farm animals. Using nested-PCR with Borrelia-specific primers, 121 serum samples from 54 exotic farm animals of several species bred in four different farms in Bohemia and Moravia (Czechia) were tested. Positive samples were sequenced for the identification of Borrelia species. The prevalence of Borrelia DNA in the samples ranged from 13 to 67%, depending on the sampling site. The sequencing results confirmed the DNA presence of multiple spirochete species from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Only one sample from an ostrich (Struthio camelus) was found to be positive for Borrelia myiamotoi. The results show that exotic farm animals can serve as hosts for hard ticks and can be infected by Borrelia spirochetes, transmitted by hard ticks. Therefore, these animals could play a relevant role in maintaining Borrelia spirochetes in nature.

Isolation of Keratinolytic Bacteria from Common Ostrich (Struthio Camelus) and their Efficacy towards Feather Degradation of Poultry Waste

Keratinolytic microorganisms have the capacity to biosynthesize particular keratinases and determine their prospective application in poultry waste management. Hence, the objective of this study was to utilize keratinolytic microbes for the degradation of poultry waste. For this purpose, the feathers of common ostrich (Struthio camelus) were collected, scattered along the surrounding dry soil, from a private ostrich farm in Kasur, Pakistan. Bacteria were isolated by using culture enrichment techniques and screened for their proteolytic activity on skim milk agar. The isolates were characterized clonially, morphologically, and biochemically and labeled as SNO1, SNO2, and SNO3, respectively. The effects of varied pH and temperatures were recorded on bacterial growth and feather degradation. It was noticed that the bacterial cell densities and feather degradation were high at 50˚C and pH 8.0, as compared to the rest of the culture conditions. Visual observations were made using a stereomicroscope. The maximum feather degradation in the form of white powdery mass was noticed at fourth (4th) week. The protein content of Struthio camelus feathers was determined as 6.5 mg/100 ml after degradation. Taken together, the authors concluded that the isolated strains were capable of feather degradation and can be used in poultry waste management.

Surgical management of rectal prolapse in ostrich chicks (Struthio camelus)

Out of 300 ostrich chicks imported from South Africa, five chicks of age two months faced rectal prolapse problems at once in the Ostrich Farm Private Limited Rupandehi, Nepal. The feather around the red protruded mass was removed and the protruded mass was cleaned with normal saline. The protruded mass was pushed with gentle pressure and corrected through surgical correction. A blood sample was taken for the analysis of the Hematological profile and the fecal sample was observed under the microscope through floatation and sedimentation techniques. On the fecal examination, no parasites were found. Feed management was done for the first day and Calcium with vitamins and other minerals was given. On the next day, two birds having small protruded masses were recovered. The protruded mass of the next three chicks was restored. Local anesthesia was given with 2ml 2%xylocaine solution around the vent region. Purse string suture is done with silk thread around the anal orifice. Blood serum examination reveals that severe low level of calcium i.e. 6.7,7.1,6.5,6.8,6.9 respectively in all 5 ostrich chicks which should be in the normal range of 9-24. As per my case study, the main cause of this prolapse is the low calcium level, the low fiber in the diet and cold stress due to the winter season.

Protecting endangered megafauna through AI analysis of drone images in a low-connectivity setting: a case study from Namibia.

Assessing the numbers and distribution of at-risk megafauna such as the black rhino (Diceros bicornis) is key to effective conservation, yet such data are difficult to obtain. Many current monitoring technologies are invasive to the target animals and expensive. Satellite monitoring is emerging as a potential tool for very large animals (e.g., elephant) but detecting smaller species requires higher resolution imaging. Drones can deliver the required resolution and speed of monitoring, but challenges remain in delivering automated monitoring systems where internet connectivity is unreliable or absent. This study describes a model built to run on a drone to identify in situ images of megafauna. Compared with previously reported studies, this automated detection framework has a lower hardware cost and can function with a reduced internet bandwidth requirement for local network communication. It proposes the use of a Jetson Xavier NX, onboard a Parrot Anafi drone, connected to the internet throughout the flight to deliver a lightweight web-based notification system upon detection of the target species. The GPS location with the detected target species images is sent using MQ Telemetry Transport (MQTT), a lightweight messaging protocol using a publisher/subscriber architecture for IoT devices. It provides reliable message delivery when internet connection is sporadic. We used a YOLOv5l6 object detection architecture trained to identify a bounding box for one of five objects of interest in a frame of video. At an intersection over union (IoU) threshold of 0.5, our model achieved an average precision (AP) of 0.81 for black rhino (our primary target) and 0.83 for giraffe (Giraffa giraffa). The model was less successful at identifying the other smaller objects which were not our primary targets: 0.34, 0.25, and 0.42 for ostrich (Struthio camelus australis), springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) and human respectively. We used several techniques to optimize performance and overcome the inherent challenge of small objects (animals) in the data. Although our primary focus for the development of the model was rhino, we included other species classes to emulate field conditions where many animal species are encountered, and thus reduce the false positive occurrence rate for rhino detections. To constrain model overfitting, we trained the model on a dataset with varied terrain, angle and lighting conditions and used data augmentation techniques (i.e., GANs). We used image tiling and a relatively larger (i.e., higher resolution) image input size to compensate for the difficulty faced in detecting small objects when using YOLO. In this study, we demonstrated the potential of a drone-based AI pipeline model to automate the detection of free-ranging megafauna detection in a remote setting and create alerts to a wildlife manager in a relatively poorly connected field environment.

Effect of Commercial &amp; Natural Feeds on the Growth Performance of Ostrich (Struthio camelus) in Captivity

In Pakistan, ostrich farming is becoming more popular as a means of obtaining inexpensive meat that is also devoid of cholesterol and other diseases when compared to chicken. In the wild, ostriches dwell in flocks of five to fifty and perform well in captivity. Ostrich chicks' early development rate is critical in preparing the bird for later growth up till the slaughter mass. The original egg mass from which the bird emerges determines the hatching weight. Ostrich chicks lose up to 20% of their weight in the first five to seven days after hatching.The typical carcass weight of an ostrich might be 57-58 percent of the live body weight.On a monthly basis, weight and height were determined, and given feed was calculated on a daily basis. The variation in growth rates between the two farms is due to the fact that the Balouch ostrich farm has far better conditions for birds and provides more food, whilst the Hamayoon ostrich farm has a lower growth rate due to restricted food availability. Furthermore, the death rate is linked to a lack of food.

Antibacterial effect of Moringa oleifera Tea Leaves and Seeds Extracts Prepared in Chloroform against E. coli Isolated from Ostrich Feces

Ostrich farming is an important growing industry in Pakistan. Its business and importance is growing day by day. However, prevalence of bacteria is major threat to ostrich industry. Objective: To identify the dominant bacteria in the feces of ostriches. Methods: The ostrich that was kept in captivity at the W.A. Apparel factory provided the fecal samples. The samples were inoculated on EMB for the isolation of E. coli. Antibacterial effect of Moringa oleifera seeds and tea leaves with the use of chloroform as a solvent. The antibacterial activity was tested against E. coli using disc diffusion method. Amoxicillin and erythromycin were used as a control antibiotics. Results: It was noticed that tea extract did not show any antimicrobial activity against E. coli. However, Moringa oleifera seeds were effective against E. coli. Conclusion: It was concluded that Moringa oleifera seeds have the potential to work against E. coli.

Hatching success and chick mortality of the ostrich (&lt;em&gt;Struthio camelus&lt;/em&gt;) in a commercial farm in Nepal

Commercial ostrich farming for trading meat and feathers is relatively new in Nepal. This study investigated hatching success and chick mortality rates in the only commercial ostrich farm in Nepal- Ostrich Nepal Pvt. Ltd, Rupandehi, Lumbini Province, Nepal. The number of eggs laid, hatched and their mortality were observed from 2014 to 2020. Results revealed higher embryonic deaths than hatching percentage, however, chick’s mortality rate was comparatively lesser. Breeding population required more nutritional diet to ensure fertile eggs. Hatchability was affected by temperature, humidity and turning of eggs. Microbial contamination and infertility were the major contributors for embryonic death. Intense care is required for the young chicks as they are very vulnerable to heat, rain and infections. Nutrition, and proper temperature and humidity management are major aspects to foster the growth and development as well as to ensure better reproductive ability of ostriches in order to lower mortality and avoid economic loss.

A Critical Review of the Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Safety Data of Antibiotics in Avian Species.

In avian medicine, the use of antibiotic dosing regimens based on species-specific pharmacological studies is ideal. However, due to a lack of such studies, dose extrapolation, which may cause inefficacy and toxicity, is common practice. Multiple searches were performed using the PubMed and Web of Science databases to extract relevant pharmacological studies performed in exotic avian species. The pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and safety data of the selected antibiotics (enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin, gentamicin, amikacin, ceftiofur, doxycycline, and amoxicillin/clavulanate) from these studies were reviewed. This review aimed to identify trends amenable for safe inter-species dose extrapolation and provide updated findings on dosing regimens that are safe and efficacious for various exotic avian species. We observed that the half-life of antibiotics appears to be shorter in the common ostrich and that amikacin may be amenable to inter-species dose extrapolation as it is safe and shows little inter-species PK and PD variation. Species-specific enrofloxacin dosing regimens that were not listed in the Exotic Animal Formulary (5th ed.) were found for Caribbean flamingos, African penguins, southern crested caracaras, common ostriches, and greater rheas. Specific dosing regimens recommended for psittacine birds (doxycycline 130 mg/kg medicated water) and ratites (PO doxycycline 2–3.5 mg/kg q12 h, PO enrofloxacin 1.5–2.5 mg/kg q12 h and IM enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg q12 h) in the formulary may not be effective in budgerigars and common ostriches, respectively. Apart from the lack of species-specific pharmacological studies, a lack of multiple dose studies was also noted.

Intra‐ and interspecific structural variation in the archosaur lung: insights from 3D imaging and segmentation

Innovations in three‐dimensional (3D) imaging and segmentation have facilitated unprecedented levels of anatomical investigation into the detailed structures of the respiratory system that are often difficult to study in situ. Recent hypotheses of homology between crocodilians and birds have facilitated quantitative comparative analyses of bronchial trees and in situ models reveal new complexities in the relationship between the respiratory and skeletal systems. Here we quantitatively compare the bronchial trees of two crocodilians, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and Cuvier’s dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) with select birds, including the ostrich (Struthio camelus), the African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus), and the red‐tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Notably, the relative distances from the carina to the secondary bronchi measured are conserved, indicating a possible ancestral or constrained trait. With respect to interspecific avian comparisons, we found grossly observable variation within a single taxon in air sac morphology (e.g., P. erithacus), as well as substantial differences between the individual taxa via segmented surface models – particularly in the expansions of the interclavicular sacs, the extent of the diverticula, and the size of the abdominal sacs. Furthermore, we found that specific sac contribution to postcranial pneumatization varies substantially across our dataset. Individual specimens imaged for this study also revealed multiple pathologies, including scoliosis, foreign objects inside the animals, and broken bones, which have been incorporated into the anatomical models for clinical surgical atlases that are under development. While these data are preliminary, they provide a framework for larger scale comparisons and hypotheses of the ancestral archosaurian pulmonary system.

Interspecific variation in avian postcranial pneumaticity: A pilot study

The avian respiratory system is composed of a unidirectionally ventilated, volume‐constant gas‐exchanging lung, and a series of compliant, flexible air sacs. Diverticula from the lungs and air sacs invade adjacent bone and create air‐filled cavities within the skeleton through the process of pneumatization. While previous studies have addressed the presence or absence of pneumatic bones in multiple species, the pattern of pneumatization has been vaguely generalized with respect to which lung elements are responsible for pneumatizing different skeleton regions. Here, we aim to address which components of the avian respiratory system are pneumatizing each component of the postcranial skeleton and how the patterns vary between different taxa. Computed tomography (CT) and microCT data are used to visualize the pneumatized bones and to segment 3D digital surface models of the skeletal and respiratory systems. Specimens used in this study include the African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), ostrich (Struthio camelus), red‐tailed hawk. (Buteo jamaicensis), and tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus). We found substantial differences in the pneumatization patterns between the birds. In all taxa examined, there is an extensive supramedullary diverticulum that travels through the vertebral canal which directly pneumatizes each vertebra in the parrots but does not contribute to any pneumatization in the swan or hawk. The sacral, pelvic, and femoral elements are pneumatized solely by pelvic diverticula in the ostrich, but predominantly by the abdominal sacs in parrots. These data indicate that the pneumatization patterns in birds are highly variable and warrant further study.

Hemato-biochemical Profile of Ostriches (Struthio Camelus) based on Gender and Age of Birds

The present study was conducted to determine the hematobiochemical analysis of ostrich (Struthio camelus) with respect to gender and progressive age. A total of 40 apparently healthy ostriches of both genders and two progressive age groups; young one (1 year to 2.4 years: group A); and adult (2.5 years to 5 years: group B) in equal number were used in this study. Blood samples were collected from the wing vein of the ostriches maintained in one of the ostrich farms near the Gogra in Pakistan. For hematobiochemistry analysis, the serum samples were obtained by centrifugation @ 500g for ten minutes) of collected blood samples and kept in 1ml aliquots. The hematobiochemical parameters included total protein, glucose, urea, uric acid, creatinine, aspartate amino transferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma Glutamyl transferase, lactic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, triglycerides, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. The results showed a significant age-related difference (P&lt;0.05) in all serum biochemical values, however, the non-significant difference (P&lt;0.05) were observed in males and females within the same age group. The mean values of cholesterol, HDL-C, uric acid and creatinine were non-significant (P&gt;0.05) between two age groups from immature to adult age and between the genders of the same age group. The statistical analysis explained that sodium (Na) and potassium (K) values were significantly (P&lt;0.05) increased in immature than the adult ostriches. Keeping in view these findings, we may conclude that this preliminary study embarked on establishing a set of reference values in serum biochemistry of ostrich in Pakistan.

Mass Sperm Motility Is Correlated to Sperm Motility as Measured by Computer-Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA) Technology in Farmed Ostriches.

Simple SummarySemen quality in ostriches is still being studied to optimize the reproductive performance of these birds in a commercial farming environment. Various methods such as mass sperm motility scoring and computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) technology have been employed successfully to evaluate semen quality characteristics such as sperm motility. The relationship between these methods in assessing sperm motility in ostriches is unknown. This study evaluated the relationship between the CASA and the mass sperm motility scoring method when analyzing ostrich sperm motility. Positive significant correlations between these methods for sperm motility traits were recorded, suggesting that farmers could utilize the affordable mass sperm motility scoring to screen ostrich males for sperm quality.Semen analyses have gained momentum in various livestock industries. However, in farmed ostriches, semen analysis is still in its experimental stage, and males are not screened for sperm quality before breeding. This study investigated the correlations between computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) technology and the traditional, yet affordable, mass sperm motility score. Semen was collected from nine South African Black ostrich males (mean age ± SD: 5.25 ± 1.21 years), using the dummy female method for 5 consecutive days monthly, for 8 months. Mass sperm motility scores were recorded on a scale of 1–5 (1: little to no sperm movement; 5: rapid sperm movement). The CASA traits recorded were: total motility (MOT), progressive motility (PMOT), curve–linear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), wobble (WOB), and beat-cross frequency (BCF). The results revealed positive correlations between mass sperm motility and PMOT, MOT, VCL, and VAP ranging from 0.34 to 0.59 (p < 0.0001). In contrast, negative correlations were recorded between mass sperm motility and LIN, STR, and BCF, with correlations ranging from −0.20 to −0.39 (p < 0.0001). VSL, ALH, and WOB were not correlated to mass sperm motility (p > 0.05). Ostrich farmers may thus be able to evaluate sperm motility reliably and potentially select breeding males by using the affordable mass sperm motility scoring method. Determining the correlation between these methods and fertility after artificial insemination or natural mating is however needed.

The Response of Captive Ostrich (Struthio camelus) to Visitor Group Size and Activity at the Accra Zoological Garden in Ghana

Zoo visitors interact with captive animals in diverse ways of which some may affect the behaviour of the animal positively or negatively. This study investigated the responses of captive ostriches to visitor group size and activity at the Accra Zoo. It also explored the enclosure usage of the birds. To test the hypothesis that visitor group size and activity have no effects on the behaviour of the ostriches, instantaneous scan sampling method was employed to study the birds’ behaviour. A Generalized Linear Model indicated that visitor group size has no effect on the locomotory, inactivity and threat-induced behaviours. Visitor activity however influenced threat-induced behaviour. A Chi-square test showed a uniform usage of all parts of the enclosure in the presence visitors. The study shows that visitor group activity solicits aggressive behaviours from the birds. It is recommended that, zoo visitors visit the enclosure and observe the birds in silence, avoiding verbal and non-verbal communications to prevent the exhibition of aggressive behaviour that ultimately stresses the birds out.

A new approach of immunotherapy against Crotalus snakes envenoming: ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg yolk antibodies (IgY-technology)

Crotalid envenomation is a neglected collective health problem involving many countries in America, which need secure and inexpensive snake anti-venom treatments. Here, high antibody titers (IgY) were raised in the Ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg yolk by immunizing with the venom of Venezuelan venomous Crotalus snakes. Ostriches were immunized with a pool of venoms from common rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus cumanensis), Uracoan rattlesnake (Crotalus vegrandis), Guayana rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus ruruima) and black rattlesnake (Crotalus pifanorum). The anti-snake venom antibodies were prepared from egg yolk by the water dilution method, enriched by the addition of caprylic acid (CA) and precipitation with ammonium sulfate at 30% (W/V). The purity and molecular mass of the final product was satisfactory, yielding a single ∼ 175 kDa band in SDS-PAGE gels ran under non-reducing conditions. In the immunoblot analysis, specific binding of the antivenom was observed with most venom proteins. The LD50 was 16.5 g/mouse (825 µg/kg body weight). High titers of IgY against Crot/pool venom were shown by ELISA. The median effective dose (ED50) was 19.66 mg/2LD50. IgY antibodies neutralized efficiently the Crot/pool venom lethality. As far as we know, this is the first anti-snake venom produced in ostriches, which could make this technology an affordable alternative for low-income countries, since it is likely to produce about 2-4 g of IgY per ostrich egg. Hence, almost 400 g of IgY can be purified from only one ostrich during a year. In addition, there are enormous differences in the cost of investment in the maintenance of horses, from the points of view of infrastructure, feeding and veterinary care, in which the cost can reach USD 100 per animal per day, compared to a maintenance cost of USD 146 per month per producing bird. These results are encouraging and could easily be extrapolated to the manufacturing of other antivenoms and antitoxins as well, as they could be applied to the manufacturing of potential diagnostic tools.

2D and 3D visualizations of archosaur jaw muscle mechanics, ontogeny and phylogeny using ternary diagrams and 3D modeling.

Comparing patterns of performance and kinematics across behavior, development and phylogeny is crucial to understand the evolution of complex musculoskeletal systems such as the feeding apparatus. However, conveying 3D spatial data of muscle orientation throughout a feeding cycle, ontogenetic pathway or phylogenetic lineage is essential to understanding the function and evolution of the skull in vertebrates. Here, we detail the use of ternary plots for displaying and comparing the 3D orientation of muscle data. First, we illustrate changes in 3D jaw muscle resultants during jaw closing taxa the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Second, we show changes in 3D muscle resultants of jaw muscles across an ontogenetic series of alligators. Third, we compare 3D resultants of jaw muscles of avian-line dinosaurs, including extant (Struthio camelus, Gallus gallus, Psittacus erithacus) and extinct (Tyrannosaurus rex) species to outline the reorganization of jaw muscles that occurred along the line to modern birds. Finally, we compare 3D resultants of jaw muscles of the hard-biting species in our sample (A. mississippiensis, T. rex, P. erithacus) to illustrate how disparate jaw muscle resultants are employed in convergent behaviors in archosaurs. Our findings show that these visualizations of 3D components of jaw muscles are immensely helpful towards identifying patterns of cranial performance, growth and diversity. These tools will prove useful for testing other hypotheses in functional morphology, comparative biomechanics, ecomorphology and organismal evolution.

Muscle yields and physical meat quality characteristics of hot- vs. cold-deboned ostrich (Struthio camelus) meat

The quality of hot-deboned (within 90 min post-mortem; left leg) and cold-deboned (<4 °C, 24 h post-mortem; right leg) muscles of 15 ostriches were evaluated. The fan fillet, rump, big drum, moon, and triangle steaks were used to establish quality characteristics. Hot-deboning had no effect on the quality parameters; differences amongst muscles were found. The varying pHu values between muscles were still within the expected range for ostrich meat with the big drum having the highest pHu linking with its low drip loss percentage. The fan fillet had a redder (a*), more saturated (Chroma) colour, whereas the big drum was more blue (b*), with a corresponding lower hue angle. The fan fillet was the most tender (35.34 N ± 8.26) in contrast with the moon steak (72.23 N ± 15.81) which can be linked to the latter's high cooking loss. Hot-deboning which provides several economic advantages for the South African ostrich industry can be considered.

Isolation of Lactobacillaceae bacteria from feces of ostrich (Struthio camelus).

The ostrich (Struthio camelus) is an herbivorous bird with a long and developed hindgut. In the hindgut, there is a dense and highly diverse population of anaerobic bacteria, and active fermentation produces high concentrations of short-chain fatty acids. Bacteria in the hindgut of the ostrich are considered vital for both their nutritional contribution and health benefits, such as benefits to the immune and defense system of the host. We attempted to isolate Lactobacillaceae, which might be involved in improving immune function and in inhibiting pathogens. The number of colonies from ostrich feces observed on LBS agar medium was 3.64×103 per gram of feces. Three strains of Lactobacillaceae were isolated from the feces. Nearly the entire length of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of these isolates was sequenced, and a homology search showed high identity with L. brevis (identity=99.93%), L. coryniformis (98.39%), and L. paracasei (100.0%). These isolates may be deemed potential probiotics for the ostrich.

A Case Report of Pulmonary Aspergillosis in an Adult Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Aspergillosis is an infectious systemic mycotic disease characterized by respiratory system lesions in birds. This report briefs the pathomorphological findings and molecular studies of aspergillosis in a male adult ostrich in Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park, Lucknow. The clinical signs exhibited by the succumbed bird were anorexia, dullness and sluggish movement before death. Detailed necropsy examination revealed multiple greenish yellow caseo-necrotic nodules in both the surface and inside the parenchyma of the lungs and air sacs along with vascular changes in other visceral organs. Microscopically, multiple granulomas characterised by caseation and necrotic debris in the centre with disintegrated fungal elements surrounded by inflammatory cells including few giant cells were noticed. Isolation and molecular techniques confirmed the infection due to Aspergillus fumigatus in the lung and air sac samples. Based on the pathomorphology, culture isolation and PCR, the disease was diagnosed as chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in ostrich.