It is unclear whether small animals, with their high stride frequency and crouched posture, or large animals, with more tendinous limbs, are more reliant on storage and return of elastic energy during locomotion. The ostrich has a limb structure that appears to be adapted for high-speed running with long tendons and short muscle fibres. Here we investigate biomechanics of ostrich gait through g...

Coccidia oocysts were demonstrated in the faeces of 53 (about 34%) of 156 apparently healthy ostrich chicks. Young chicks had the highest proportion of infestation while those more than 9 weeks old had no oocysts at all in their faeces. These coccidia may be considered no pathogenic since the infected chicks grew normally without any evidence of diarrhoea.

The present study was carried out with the aim of determining the effects of storage temperature and storage position on embryonic mortalities in ostrich eggs. A total of 229 ostrich eggs was collected from two commercial ostrich farms. The effects of storage temperature on embryonic mortality differed. Embryonic deaths (totalled for early, medium and late incubation) were determined at respect...

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 eit...

The ultrastructure of the follicular wall in primordial, previtellogenic and vitellogenic follicles of the sexually immature ostrich is described in the present study. The follicular wall consists of a zona radiata, granulosa cell layer, basal lamina and thecal layer. Cytoplasmic processes from the plasma membranes of the granulosa cell layer and the ovocyte form the zona radiata in previtellog...

The demand for ostrich meat and other products is increasing. The primary problem facing the industry is a lack of information on the nutrient requirements of these birds, particularly neonatal birds. This may be partly responsible for the high mortality of chicks and the lack of expansion of the industry. Knowledge of the development of the ostrich’s anatomy and digestive function is limited. ...

The macroscopic features of the venous drainage of the reproductive system of the male ostrich were studied in six pre-pubertal and three sexually mature and active birds. Each testis was drained by one to four testicular veins. The right testicular veins drained the right testis and epididymis and its appendix to the caudal vena cava and to the right common iliac vein, whereas the left testicu...

The rapid outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus and its transmission to humans have induced world-wide fears of a new influenza pandemic. The most effective method for the reduction of the impact of such a pandemic would be prophylaxis with a safe and effective vaccine, as well as anti-viral materials. In this study, we generated the specific antibodies 'immunoglobulin yo...

The chordae tendineae of the heart are collagenous strands which extend from the apical margin of papillary muscles of the heart to the various areas on the ventricular surface of the valve leaflets. They convey the contraction of the papillary muscles to the valve and so prevent the latter’s eversion. Eight hearts of the ostrich were collected, opened the left side of the heart and the length ...