Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Struthioniformes”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Purification and characterization of the 20S proteasome from ostrich skeletal muscle.

The proteasome is a high molecular weight, multisubunit and multicatalytic enzyme. Here we report the purification and characterization of ostrich skeletal muscle 20S proteasome. It was purified to homogeneity with Mr 700,000, pI 6.67 and a 'ladder' of 22.2-33.5 kDa bands on SDS-PAGE. The amino acid composition and amino-terminal sequences showed large identities to those of other species. For the three major activities, pH and temperature optima ranged between 8.0-11.0 and 40-70 degrees C, and stabilities between 5-12 and up to 40-60 degrees C. Substrate specificity and inhibitory effects were also studied. Many similarities to other sources were shown, with a few significant differences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Proliferative response by the ostrich proventriculus in idiopathic gastric stasis: a case report.

In this report, the late clinical, necropsy, and histopathological findings of idiopathic gastric stasis in an ostrich are described, with special attention to the proventriculus. An ostrich with clinical signs of gastric stasis was brought to our clinic in a state of impending death that could not be reversed with emergency medical care. At necropsy, the koilin layer of the gizzard was uneven without ulcerations. The proventriculus was distended with food items without impaction and mucosal lesions. None of the most typical aetiological factors including foreign objects, Macrorhabdus ornithogaster and parasitic infection with Libyostrongylus douglassii was present. Histologically, the proventriculus was characterised by hyperplastic mucosa with luminal buds and necrotic cells in the lumen. Immunochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) revealed a high rate of proliferation in epithelial cells of the glandular and mucosal lining in the proventriculus neighbouring the affected gizzard: approximately 88.6% of the cells were immunoreactive as compared to 34.4% of the cells in control ostriches used for comparison. In conclusion, in the absence of gizzard contraction, the mucosal lining of the proventriculus is hyperplastic with a high rate of proliferation that may help compensate the distension due to the accumulation of food items.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

First report of the genus Retortamonas (Sarcomastigophora: Retortamonadidae) in birds.

In studies carried out on the parasites infecting ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Spain, trophozoites of Retortamonas sp. have been found in the intestinal contents of 28 out of 146 slaughtered ostriches. The species infecting ostriches could not be determined from the morphological data available. However, these findings are important as they constitute the first report of the genus Retortamonas in birds.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genetic and antigenic characterization of a poxvirus isolate from ostriches.

Avian poxvirus was isolated from nodules on the heads and conjunctiva of two 3-to-4-wk-old ostrich chicks. The ostriches from which poxvirus was isolated had been placed on premises where turkeys that had shown evidence of poxvirus infection had been raised earlier. Microscopically, the nodules from the ostriches were composed of proliferating and hypertrophic epithelial cells that formed large fronds. Most of the hypertrophic epithelial cells contained large eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies characteristic of poxvirus. Characterization of the avian poxvirus isolated from the cutaneous lesions in ostriches was based on western blotting of virus antigen, restriction fragment length polymorphism of genomic DNA, pathogenesis, and cross-protection studies in chickens. Antigenic and genetic studies did not reveal any significant difference between the poxvirus isolated from ostriches (PVO) and fowl poxvirus (FPV). Further, susceptible chickens immunized with the PVO were protected when challenged with a virulent strain of FPV. Thus, the poxvirus isolated from ostriches had similar antigenic, genetic, and biological properties to FPV.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and virus neutralization test for detection of antibodies to avian pneumovirus.

Two different whole-virus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), developed in Ohio (OH) with APV/Minnesota/turkey/2a/97 and in Minnesota (MN) with APV/Colorado/turkey/97, and the virus neutralization (VN) test were used to test 270 turkey serum samples from 27 Minnesota turkey flocks for avian pneumovirus (APV) antibodies. In addition, 77 turkey serum samples and 128 ostrich serum samples from Ohio were tested. None of the turkey samples from Ohio had antibodies to APV by the VN test and OH ELISA. The ostrich samples were only tested with the VN test and were all negative for antibodies to APV. For the Minnesota serum samples, 107, 115, and 120 were positive by the VN test, the OH ELISA, and the MN ELISA, respectively. The Kappa values of 0.938 and 0.825 showed excellent agreement between the VN test and the OH ELISA and the MN ELISA, respectively, for detection of antibodies to the APV. The OH ELISA and MN ELISA had sensitivities of 1.0 and 0.953, specificities of 0.950 and 0.889, and accuracies of 0.970 and 0.914, respectively. Our results indicate that the 3 methods are sensitive and specific for diagnosis of the APV infection.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stomach impaction in ostriches (Struthio camelus): blood chemistry, hematology, and treatment.

This study involved 14 ostriches of both sexes between 3 and 24 mo of age. Some hematologic and biochemical parameters were studied in animals with stomach impaction. Clinical examination of the birds revealed anorexia, emaciation, decreased defecation, listlessness, separation from the flock, and recumbence. The total number of leukocytes (10.4 x 10(3) mm3), the concentrations of serum glucose (166 mg/dl), and total protein (2.4 g/dl) decreased; serum creatine phosphokinase (1240 U/L) and alkaline phosphatase (598 U/L) increased; whereas no changes were found in the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and copper. Medical treatment was initiated in 13 animals; six of them recovered and seven birds died. Necropsy revealed edema, erosions, and hemorrhagic ulcers in the stomach of the dead birds. Foreign bodies such as sand; stone; pieces of wood, glass, and plastic; and metallic objects were encountered in the stomach at the necropsy. In one bird, metallic foreign body was diagnosed and the bird was referred to surgery. Under stress factors, ostriches tend to eat foreign material; therefore, adequate housing, nutrition, and care are crucial in prevention of stomach impaction.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Development of real-time RT-PCR for the detection of avian influenza virus.

A real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) assay was developed using hydrolysis probes for the detection of avian influenza virus (AIV) and the H5 and H7 subtypes. The AIV specific primers and probes were directed to regions of the AIV matrix gene that are conserved among most type A influenza viruses. The H5 and H7 primers and probes are directed to H5 and H7 hemagglutinin gene regions that are conserved among North American avian influenza viruses. The sensitivity and specificity of this RRT-PCR assay was compared to virus isolation (VI) in chicken embryos with 1550 clinical swab samples from 109 live-bird markets (LBMs) in New York and New Jersey. RRT-PCR detected influenza in samples from 61 of 65 (93.8%) of the LBMs that were the sources of VI positive samples. Of the 58 markets that were positive for H7 influenza by hemagglutination inhibition assay, RRT-PCR detected H7 influenza in 56 markets (96.5%). Too few H5 positive samples were obtained to validate the H5 RRT-PCR assay in this study. Although RRT-PCR was less sensitive than VI on an individual sample basis, this study demonstrated that the AIV and H7 RRT-PCR assays are good tools for the rapid screening of flocks and LBMs.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Pathogenesis of H7 influenza A viruses isolated from ostriches in the homologous host infected experimentally.

Infections of ostriches with avian influenza A viruses are generally associated with clinical disease, but the occasional high mortality in young birds does not appear to be related directly to virus pathotype. In this study we investigated the pathogenesis of two H7 viruses for 11-wk-old ostriches inoculated intranasally, and clinical symptoms, virus excretion, and immune response were studied. One of the viruses (A/Ostrich/Italy/1038/00) was highly pathogenic for chickens, whereas the other (A/Ostrich/South Africa/1609/91) was of low pathogenicity for chickens. Clinical signs in ostriches receiving virulent virus were slight depression and hemorrhagic diarrhea, while the group receiving avirulent virus was clinically normal except for green diarrhea. Both viruses were transmitted to in-contact sentinel birds housed with the infected groups 3 days postinfection. Postmortem examination of the birds infected (including the sentinel bird) with virus highly pathogenic for chickens were grossly normal except for localized pneumonic lesions. The results of the study are presented and discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Pathogenicity of a ratite-origin influenza A H5 virus in ostriches (Struthio camelus).

Ostriches were inoculated with a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of ratite origin, A/emu/Texas/39924/93 (H5N2) done clB. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of this isolate for ostriches and to assess the ability of routine virologic and serologic tests to detect infection. Avian influenza virus (AIV) was isolated from tracheal swabs from 2 to 12 days postinfection and from cloacal swabs from 3 to 10 days postinfection. AIV was also isolated from a wide range of tissues. Birds seroconverted as early as 7 days postinfection. This study indicates that HPAI virus of ratite origin replicates extensively in infected ostriches without causing significant clinical disease or mortality.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Bacteriologic findings in ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs from farms with reproductive failures.

From January 2001 to December 2002, 543 ostrich eggs were submitted for bacteriologic investigation. The eggs were laid by 387 domesticated ostriches that suffered fertility disorders and that came from 44 farms located in different areas of Northern and Central Italy. Microbiologic investigations showed bacterial isolation in 105 (19.3%) of 543 eggs examined, with a high prevalence of enterobacteria from albumen and yolk. In only a few cases did bacterial isolation result from yolk or albumen alone. An antibiotic sensitivity test was conducted on isolates by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. This is the first report regarding the microbiologic status of eggs from ostrich farms located in different Italian regions.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Fibrino-necrotic typhlitis caused by Escherichia fergusonii in ostriches (Struthio camelus).

Two adult ostriches developed anorexia, prostration, and severe hemorrhagic diarrhea, dying 24 hr after the onset of clinical signs. On postmortem examination, the cecal mucosa showed locally extensive areas of hemorrhages and fibrino-necrotic typhlitis with a white-yellowish material covering the mucosal surface. Multiple serosal petequial hemorrhages and fibrinous peritonitis were present. Histologic examination revealed an intense mononuclear infiltration in the lamina propria and submucosa of the cecum and extensive superficial necrosis associated with fibrin and serocellular deposits. Several gram-negative bacterial colonies were observed within the necrotic areas. Samples from intestinal lesions were collected, and pure growth of Escherichia fergusonii was obtained. Escherichia fergusonii is a member of Enterobacteriaceae, closely related to Escherichia coli and Shigella sp., established as a new species of the genus Escherichia in 1985. In veterinary medicine, E. fergusonii has been reported in calves and sheep from dinical cases suggestive of salmonellosis. To our knowledge, this report represents the first description of E. fergusonii associated with enteritis in ostrich.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Intravenous pharmacokinetics of penicillin G and antipyrine in ostriches (Struthio camelus) and emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

Penicillin G and antipyrine, which served as model drugs to assess the relative capacities of renal and hepatic elimination pathways, respectively, were each administered intravenously to six ostriches (Struthio camelus) and to six emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae). Drug concentrations in blood samples collected over a period of 12 hr after administration were assayed, and elimination half-life, mean residence time, clearance, and steady-state volume of distribution were calculated. Mean values for elimination half-life and mean residence time of penicillin G were significantly higher in emus than in ostriches; no significant differences in antipyrine pharmacokinetics between species were demonstrated.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Mycobacterium avium infection in an ostrich (Struthio camelus).

Acid-fast organisms were identified by histopathology of granulomatous lesions in an ostrich (Struthio camelus). The organisms were grown in Herrold's egg media with and without mycobactin and identified as Mycobacterium avium. An agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test for Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis was performed for detection of antibody for M. avium in this infected ostrich and seven other ostriches that were in contact. The results of the AGID were consistent with the pathologic diagnosis of mycobacteriosis and the isolation of M. avium in the affected ostrich.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in ostriches (Struthio camelus).

Serum samples from 973 ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Canada were examined for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by the modified agglutination test incorporating mercaptoethanol and formalin-fixed whole tachyzoites. Twenty-eight (2.9%) of the 973 birds were found to be seropositive for antibodies to T. gondii at titers of 1:25 in 15 birds, 1:50 in 12 birds, and 1:500 in 1 bird. This is the first record of T. gondii exposure in ostriches, and it supports the hypothesis that all avian species are susceptible to Toxoplasma infection. Nevertheless, the results of this study suggest that the risk of acquiring toxoplasmosis from ostriches as a food source is low.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed2006

Biological studies and molecular characterization of a Cryptosporidium isolate from ostriches (Struthio camelus).

There are many reports of cryptosporidial infection in ostriches, but none with molecular characterization of the isolates. A study was undertaken for the characterization of a Brazilian Cryptosporidium sp. ostrich isolate by using molecular phylogenetic analysis of fragments of the 18S ribosomal DNA, heat-shock protein (hsp) 70 coding gene, and actin coding gene. Biological studies were accomplished by the experimental inoculation of chickens via oral or intratracheal routes with fresh ostrich Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts. Molecular analysis of nucleotide sequences of the 3 genes by using neighbor-joining and parsimony methods grouped the ostrich isolate as a sister taxon of Cryptosporidium baileyi and showed that the ostrich isolate is genetically distinct from all other known Cryptosporidium species or genotypes. None of the inoculated chickens developed infection as determined by mucosal smears, histology, and fecal screening for oocysts. Although biological and molecular studies indicate that the ostrich Cryptosporidium is a new species, further studies regarding morphological, biological, and molecular characteristics of other ostrich isolates are required to confirm the species status of the ostrich Cryptosporidium.

Actins↗
PubMed2000

Borna disease virus: new aspects on infection, disease, diagnosis and epidemiology.

A 'disease of the head' affecting horses, as described in the 17th Century is now known as Borna disease. Research over the past 100 years has established that the aetiological agent, Borna disease virus (BDV), is an unsegmented, single- and negative-stranded, enveloped ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus which represents the family Bornaviridae in the order Mononegavirales. The virus exists world-wide in horses, sheep, cattle, cats, dogs and ostriches. The infection can be fatal, but the majority of carriers are persistently infected without showing symptoms. The association with psychiatric diseases in humans led to an international explosion of research on BDV, with centres established in Germany, the United States of America and Japan. Experimental infections of tree shrews and rats served to examine the effects of persistent and overt disease, most excitingly, virus-induced behavioural changes, and emotional and learning deficits. This 'emerging' virus infection shows complex pathogenetic mechanisms in the nervous system, but also spreads through myelo-monocytic cells. Diagnosis can be made serologically, but detection of antigen markers in peripheral white blood cells, combined with nucleic acid amplification is more profitable. Comparative RNA studies reveal an unusually high genetic homology of viruses. Isolates recovered from humans and equines suggest species-specificity. Vaccination is not an advisable strategy, but antiviral therapy, especially with amantadine sulphate, promises efficacy in human mood disorders, and is effective in vitro. Infections with BDV follow a vulnerability principle to cause disease. Although cross-species transmission of this commensal virus has not been proven, zoonotic aspects of BDV should be carefully considered.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Ostrich diseases.

Scientific knowledge of ostrich diseases is incomplete and very fragmented, with specific details on technical aspects of diagnostic and/or screening tests completely absent in most cases. Salmonella Typhimurium is common in multispecies collections and causes mortality in chicks younger than three months on commercial farms, but is rarely found in chicks older than six months, or slaughter birds of twelve to fourteen months in southern Africa. Campylobacter jejuni and Chlamydia psittaci are occasionally reported, mainly in young ostriches, but both remain a diagnostic challenge. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is transmitted to domestic animals including ostriches, principally by ticks of the genus Hyalomma. In the ostrich, the disease causes no clinical symptoms during a viraemia of approximately four days. Spongiform encephalopathy has not been reliably reported in ostriches, while anthrax has occurred rarely in modern times but was reportedly an important cause of death approximately 100 years ago in South Africa. Salmonella Gallinarum and S. Pullorum are unknown in ostriches. Pasteurella multocida occurs but is easily contained with antibiotics. Mycoplasma spp. are regularly found in an upper respiratory disease syndrome complicated by opportunistic bacterial pathogens. Ostriches of all ages are susceptible to challenge by velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV), but standard inactivated La Sota poultry vaccines can stimulate protective immunity lasting over six months. The viraemic period in vaccinated slaughter ostriches is between nine and eleven days and there are no indications of a carrier state or presence of the virus in the meat or any other tissues after this period, with peak immunoglobulin G response reached on day fourteen post infection. Haemagglutination inhibition tests are significantly less sensitive and less specific than enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Cloacal and choanal swabs used for direct virological screening in clinically affected cases (field and experimental) could not detect NDV. All avian influenza isolates reported from ostriches have been non-pathogenic to poultry, even the H5 and H7 subtypes. Some of the latter have been associated with mortality of ostrich chicks in localised outbreaks during periods of inclement weather and with significant wild bird (waterfowl) contact. Borna disease causes a nervous syndrome in ostrich chicks, but to date, has only been reported in Israel. Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitides cause fatal disease in ostriches and other ratites, with mortality ranging from less than 20% to over 80% in affected flocks. These diseases are present in North, Central and South America where the associated ornithophilic mosquito vectors occur. Equine and human vaccines are apparently safe and efficacious in ratites. Wesselsbron disease, infectious bursal disease (type 2), adenovirus and coronavirus infections have been reported from ostriches but the significance of these diseases is unclear. Due to the paucity of data regarding ostrich diseases and the unvalidated state of most poultry tests in this unique group of birds, strict observation of a pre-slaughter quarantine of thirty days is strongly advised, whilst live exports and fertile eggs should be screened through the additional use of sentinel chickens and/or young ostriches.

Animals↗