title: Spontaneous diseases in captive ratites (Struthioniformes) in northwestern Germany: A retrospective study.
abstract: A retrospective study was carried out to define the spectrum of spontaneous diseases in ostriches and few other captive ratites, order Struthioniformes, in northwestern Germany. The investigation included 71 ratites necropsied between 1968 and 2014. They consisted of 54 ostriches, 5 emus, and 12 rheas with 37 adults, 23 juveniles and 11 neonates and embryonated eggs. Necropsy reports were reviewed, histologic preparations were re-examined and additional histochemical and immunohistochemical stains were carried out in selected cases. In many animals more than one morphologic diagnosis attributable to different disease processes was found. In adult animals (n = 37), the most commonly altered organ systems were the musculoskeletal system (49%), the digestive system (46%), and the cardiovascular system (46%) affected by traumatic lesions, inflammatory and degenerative changes, respectively. A spongy degeneration was found in the brain (35%); however, immunohistochemistry and western blotting failed to detect pathological prion protein. In juvenile animals (n = 23), the musculoskeletal (44%) and the digestive system (43%) were mainly affected by traumatic and inflammatory lesions, respectively. In embryonated eggs and neonates (n = 11) the major cause of death was circulatory failure associated with generalized subcutaneous edema as described for improper incubation conditions (64%). Summarized, most of the findings observed in adult and juvenile ratites in northwestern Germany are related to trauma, inflammatory and degenerative disorders, whereas death in embryonated eggs and neonates was most likely related to breeding conditions. A spongy encephalopathy awaits further studies to elucidate cause and pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Aimara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.|Zoo Wuppertal, Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frei
authors.affiliation: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Westfalen, Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balkema-Buschmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baumgärtner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wohlsein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D008297:Male; D020310:Struthioniformes