The aim of this study was to propose equations to predict changes that occur over time in the angular position of the bones during motion and the angular velocity of the bones in forward motion as a consequence of tibiotarsal rotation (TTR) in ostriches aged 14 months. Twenty-four normal 14-month-old ostriches (12 cocks and 12 hens) and 20 birds with TTR (9 cocks and 11 hens) were used in the s...

Introduction of ostrich (Struthio camelus domesticus), a new exotic host species to a new ecosystem likeIran, necessitates the study of its infectious diseases including parasitic infestations. For a period of one year, from 2002–03, faecal samples of 254 ostriches on 5 farms located at different parts of Iran, includingGarmsar, Semnan province (n = 85); Nashtaroud, Mazandaran province (n = 29)...

1. In a study spanning two breeding seasons, we assessed the effect of different dietary energy and protein levels on body mass, body condition, and egg production of female ostriches. 2. During the first breeding season, groups were given diets with energy concentrations of 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 MJ/kg dry mass (DM) metabolisable energy (ME) and protein concentrations of 135, 150 and 165 g/kg. In t...

Mammals and birds engage in two distinct states of sleep, slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. SWS is characterized by slow, high amplitude brain waves, while REM sleep is characterized by fast, low amplitude waves, known as activation, occurring with rapid eye movements and reduced muscle tone. However, monotremes (platypuses and echidnas), the most basal (or 'ancient') gr...

Samples of either gut content from ostriches showing symptoms of enteritis, or allantoic fluid of eggs inoculated with ostrich isolates, were examined for the presence of viral agents by direct negative-contrast electron microscopy. Only a few virus types could be identified with certainty, namely a circovirus (1 sample), a coronavirus (1 sample), a member of either the toga- or bunyaviridae (1...

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral zoonosis, which is usually transmitted via tick bites or close contact with infected blood or tissue. This disease can cause a case fatality rate of up to 25%-30% in humans. CCHF Infection in birds is less documented. An ostrich can reproduce viruses and can also play the role of a mechanical vector, by transporting infected ticks without becomi...

Electrocardiograms were taken from 100 normal healthy male and female ostriches which were 1 to 15 months old using a base apex lead. The heart rate of those less than 3 months old ranged from 107 to 250 beats per minute with a mean of 171.47 +/- 9.03 and that of ostriches of more than 3 months old ranged from 43 to 167 with a mean of 90.52 +/- 2.64 beats/minute. The P-waves were positive in al...

ostriches are susceptible to bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases. one of the most commonstrategies to reduce microbial contamination in animal production systems is to identify microbesources. in this regard, a first critical component for comprehensive farm-to-fork strategies to reducethe burden of foodborne illness is the identification of the pathogenic fungi in foodstuffs with animalso...

A digestibility study was conducted with 3, 6, 10, 17 week old and 30 month old ostriches. Metabolizable energy (ME) values and fat and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibilities were determined. The formulated ME of the diet (chicken ME basis) was 1983 kcal/kg. The determined values with ostriches were: 3 weeks, 1731; 6 weeks, 2337; 10 weeks,2684; 17 weeks, 2739; and 30 months, 2801 kcal/kg...