Bacteriological studies and biochemical parameters of respiratory infection in ostriches
Ali, A.R.; Youssef, A.E.
Veterinary Medical Journal Giza 51(2): 189-203
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1110-1423 Document Number: 447274
Blood samples were collected from 20 apparently healthy ostriches and 20 ostriches with signs of respiratory disease housed in private farms in El-Wady, El-Gadid, and Alexandria Governorates in Giza, Cairo, Egypt . The most prevalent bacteria were Escherichia coli (53.33%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (30%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21.66%), Pasteurella haemolytica (20.83%), Micrococcus spp. (18.33%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.66%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (15.83%), Proteus mirabilis (15%), Arcanobacterium pyogenes (14.16%), Pasteurella multocida (7.50%), and Citrobacter freundii (7.50%). The most predominant E. coli serogroups were O1, O6, O18, O25, O26, O44, O55, O78, O86, O114, O119, O125, O142, O152 and O157; 5 strains could not be typed serologically. Serogroups of P. aeruginosa isolated from diseased ostriches were A, B, F, I, H, J, K, L, and N. Antibodies to Mycoplasma gallisepticum were detected in sera of 3 diseased ostriches. Antibiogram showed that most of the isolated pathogens were sensitive to enrofloxacin. All tested isolates were sensitive to gentamicin except Micrococcus, Proteus mirabilis, and Proteus vulgaris. Respiratory bacterial infections resulted in a significant decrease in red blood cells, haemoglobin, and packed cell volume. In contrast, mean corpuscular value and mean corpuscular haemoglobin increased. Moreover, total leukocyte count, lymphocytes, and monocytes were elevated, whereas neutrophil count was decreased. Significant increases in serum total proteins, globulins, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were observed in diseased ostriches. In contrast, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, sodium, and creatinine values did not differ from those of apparently healthy ostriches.