OSTRICH CHICK DISEASES. 



By James Walker, M.R.C.V.S. 



(Abstract.) 



It is only within recent times that ostrich farming attained 

 considerable importance, and for these reasons a study of the 

 diseases affecting the ostrich chick has only lately demanded 

 serious attention. 



Dift'erent observers have recorded, at various times, diseases 

 affecting the ostrich chick. It is noteworthy that perhaps the 

 more important of these, namely, yellow liver or chick fever, was 

 recorded as far back as 1881 by the late Hon. Arthur Douglas, 

 of Heatherton Towers, C.P., in his book, entitled "Ostrich Farm- 

 ing in South Africa, 188 r." 



In November, 191 1, the writer noted the occurrence of a 

 Leucocytozoon infection in chicks of from three weeks to seven 

 months old, for which the name Leucocytozoon struthionis was 

 proposed, for a description of which see second report of the 

 Director of \'"eterinar\- Research, October, 1912, page 384. Up 

 till then Leucocytozoa had been found to exist chiefly in wild 

 birds, new species had been described in a few instances in game 

 birds, and less rarely in domesticated birds, and consequently 

 from an economical point of view, its occurrence was not consi- 

 dered of much importance. During the course of investigations 

 in connection with Leucocytozoa infection a number of post- 

 mortems were made with the result that, in many cases, chicks 

 showing this affection were also found to be infected with Stron- 

 gyhts Douglasil and Taenia. The absence of intestinal parasites 

 was, however, noted in some instances, and the cause of death 

 had thus to be disassociated with wireworm and tapeworm 

 infection, and the writer is of opinion that in cases which show 

 an acute infection Avith symptoms of anremia, Leucocytozoon 

 struthionis is responsible for deaths among young chicks, at an>- 

 rate when associated v.ith intestinal parasites it may cause a 

 heavy mortality. Leucocytozoon struthionis being a blood para- 

 site, its presence can be determined on microscopical examination 

 of blood smears from aft'ected birds. 



Although the natural method of transmission has not been 

 determined (transmission experiments with blood of aff'ected 

 birds were negative), it is probable that an intermediate host is 

 the carrier. 



In October, 1912, the writer recorded the occurrence of 

 aspergillosis in the ostrich in South Africa,* and later noted this 

 infection in cases of so-called yellow liver or chick fever. With 

 the growth in importance of ostrich farming, the demand for 

 chicks from good feather strains and the rearing of ostriches 

 increased considerably, so much so, that artificial incubation was 



* Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 3 (1913), 35-38. 



