Endoparasic diseases of ostriches in eastern Ukraine

Abstract

In ostrich farming is difficult to obtain the necessary production and economic results without protection of bird health. We determined the incidence of parasitic ostriches during the period of growing and keeping on specialized eco-zoos. Samples from small and large farms, as well as eco-parks in Kharkiv, Dnepr and Donetsk regions of Ukraine, were examined during 2016- 2020. We performed a parasitological study of 159 samples from three species of ostriches (black African ostrich, Australian common Emu (Dromaius), Rhea). Infestation of ostriches of different ages with two types of nematodes and Eimeria was established. We determoined that the population of ostriches in specialized farms and eco-zoos was infested with nematodes and protozoa with an extensiveness of invasion from 7.7% to 71.4% among adult birds, while young ostriches were infested with Emeria from 20.0% to 44.4%. The largest invasion by helminths and protozoa was observed among black African ostriches in Kharkiv region (41.4%), in Dnepr region it was 33.3%, and in Donetsk it reached 34.1%. Among the livestock of ostriches, there were both mono and mixinvasions. Most often, this was an invasion by Trichostrongylus spp. and Eimeria spp. in African black ostriches, capillaries and Eimeria in Emu. In Kharkiv region, the invasion of Capillaria by Trichostrongylus in African ostriches and Trichostrongylus in Emu were found when they were kept together. Acute and chronic eimeriosis disease can lead to the death of ostriches at the age of 3-4 months.