Impaction of the Stomachs in Farmed Ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Botswana

Abstract

Impaction of the proventriculus, gizzard, and sometimes intestines due to sand was confirmed at postmortem in 25 cases involving ostriches (Struthio camelus). Although there was no age predisposition, impaction was more common in juvenile over 3 mo old. Clinical signs included sternal recumbency, outstretched neck, debility, and inability to stand. Palpation of the impacted stomachs gave a gritty sensation. Depletion of coronary fat was a consistent postmortem finding. The most common material causing impaction was sand. This report highlights impaction as one of the major causes of debility and death in intensively farmed ostriches. High levels of alkaline phosphatase coupled with low levels of plasma glucose, protein, and albumin detected in impacted ostriches may be useful diagnostic antemortem indicators of the syndrome.

Ostrich (Struthio camelus) gastric diseases in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 1997 to 2009

“…As described in literature, chronic anorexia may eventually result in death, being a cause of productive loss and inferior reproductive performance (Gulbahar et al, 2000;Yusek et al, 2002;Komnenou et al, 2003). At necropsy, undigested material and foreign bodies (hair, metal rings, feathers, leaves, seeds, hooks, bones, stones, glasses, and sand) were observed in ostriches proventriculus and/or ventricle ( Figure 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d), as previously described by Mushi et al (1998), Martins et al (2006), and Aichinger (2007). Erosions, ulcers, and bleeding were observed in proventriculus and ventricle (Figure 1e), as well as mucosal edema and necrosis, similar to previous reports (Crabill and Honnas, 1996;Gulbahar et al, 2000;Yusek et al, 2002).…”

Effects of thermal manipulation during late incubation period on post-hatch thermotolerance in ostrich

“…Generally, ostrich chicks lose weight in the first few days of life. For example, weight loss of ostrich chicks occurs in the first 7 days due to utilization of egg yolk and then the weight increases by about 1.3 kg/week up to 12 weeks (Mushi et al 1998). The authors recommended that ostrich chicks should have access to feed and water from day 1 to promote the development of the digestive tract.…”

Surgical Treatment of Gastric Impaction in Farmed Ostriches

“…Hypeproteinaemia, hyperalbuminaemia and hyperglycaemia had been useful as diagnostic indicators of dehydration whereas increased alkaline phosphatase activity indicated intestinal disturbances and aspartate transaminase elevation was related to inappetance, anorexia, muscle and organ breakdown (Jensen et al., 1992b; Mushi et al., 1998). Nevertheless, confirmation by radiographic examination (Mushi et al., 1998) was considered necessary and proved most useful as it revealed a large dilated proventriculus full of foreign radiodense material in all birds and a dilated ventriculus in one bird. In cases of doubt, serial radiographs taken at 1‐h intervals combined with palpation of the proventriculus would confirm impaction, because birds not given any food should empty their stomachs within 24–48 h (Honnas et al., 1991).…”

“…Clinical signs and radiography may be sufficient enough to confirm diagnosis. Prevention is the optimal method to minimize losses caused by impaction (Gamble and Honnas, 1993; Sato et al., 1994; Mushi et al., 1998). According to our experience, the affected birds should be surgically treated as soon as possible, in order to avoid complications of impaction.…”