CHAPTER XVIII 
INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND PARASITES OF THE OSTRICH 
ANTHRAX IN THE OSTRICH 
Characterization. Anthrax of the ostrich is an acute febrile in- 
fection caused by Bacterium anthracis. 
History. The disease was first reported by Henning in the Cape 
of Good Hope in 1894, and later by Robertson. Theiler in 1912 also 
has described the disease. 
Etiology. Anthrax of mammals and of the ostrich is identical, 
the causative agent being B. anthracis. 
Pathogenicity. The disease is transmissible. from ostrich to os- 
trich by inoculation with heart blood. It is.also communicated from 
the ostrich to the sheep and goat by inoculation. A strain of anthrax 
occurring originally in cattle was inoculated into a sheep, with fatal 
result, and blood of this animal when inoculated into an ostrich 
caused death from the same disease. 
The susceptibility of man to anthrax constitutes an important 
reason for care in conducting autopsies. 
Symptoms. According to Theiler anthrax occurs in the ostrich 
in two forms: the peracute or apoplectic form and as anthrax fever. 
The peracute form attracts most notice for it invariably ends in 
death. In natural cases the birds are generally found dead in the 
morning, or in a moribund condition, comatose, paralyzed and ap- 
parently insensible. A bird may present the picture of health one 
moment and be dead of the disease a few minutes later. In such a 
sudden attack, the feathers become erect and the whole body is shaken 
with tremors. The bird staggers, lies down on the side and kicks con- 
vulsively, while the neck twists and untwists spasmodically. 
More chronic cases have been designated anthrax fever. The 
birds show symptoms of a general illness and do not feed well for a 
few days. The attack results in death, or more commonly in re- 
covery. 
Morbid anatomy. In the apoplectic cases the carcass is fre- 
quently in the best of condition and rigor mortis usually is absent. 
The blood escaping from the distended cutaneous and subcutaneous 
veins is usually dark in color and coagulates badly. 
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