title: Adaptation of ostriches to transport-induced stress: physiometabolic response.
abstract: This study assessed the effects of five different transport periods on physiometabolic responses and gas exchange in ostriches. It included 138 ostriches that were assigned to five experimental groups. G1 included 78 birds that were set aside as a reference group (RG). Each one of the four remaining experimental groups included 20 ostriches, which were transported in the following manner: G1 on one occasion for a period of 1 h; G2 on one occasion for 2 h; and G3 on one occasion for 3 h; G4a was made up of the ostriches from G1 but they were shipped on a second occasion, for 2 h (making a total of 3 h); finally, G4b was that same group, but after a third transport period, on this occasion during 3 h (for a total of 6 h). Groups G2 and G3 presented the most marked blood alterations (P < 0.05), including an increase in pH, hypocapnia (27.8 ± 0.80 mmHg), hypernatremia (171.75 ± 1.84 mmol/L), hypocalcemia (0.95 ± 0.03 mmol/L), and hyperglycemia (224.05 ± 3.94 mg/dL). Also, group G3 presented the lowest hematocrit values (26.5 ± 0.47 HTC%). Therefore, transporting ostriches with no prior experience for 3 h caused the most pronounced physiometabolic changes.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Maestría en Ciencias de la Producción y de la Salud Animal, UNAM, Distrito Federal 04960, México.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Galindo
authors.forename: Aline S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: de Aluja
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guerrero-Legarreta
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orozco-Gregorio
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borderas-Tordesillas
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mora-Medina
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roldan-Santiago
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flores-Peinado
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mota-Rojas
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D020310:Struthioniformes / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes