BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON EGGS, GASTROINTESTINAL AND REPRODUCTIVE TRACT SECRETIONS OF OSTRICHES

Ostrich birds are less sensitive to infectious agents because ostrich need additional factors and circumstances to manifest clinical diseases. Most ostrich diseases are multi-factorial, such as, yolk-sac retention infection, poor hygiene during egg handling and problem during or soon after naval of hatching that is initially gut colonization due to pathogenic bacteria. A total of 150 samples were processed and different types of bacterial microorganisms identified through biochemical tests. Among the egg shell E. coli (12%), Citrobacter (6%), Staph. aureus (2%) and Klebsiella (4%) were the main incriminating organisms. In egg yolk isolated bacteria were E. coli (6%) and Citrobacter (2%) while in egg albumin E.coli (4%) and Klebsiella (2%) respectively. The bacteria isolated from reproductive tract were E.coli (2%), Klebsiella (2%), and Serratia (2%) while from gastrointestinal tract secretion samples revealed E.coli (4%), Citrobactor (2%) and Klebsiella (2%). Bacterial pathogens could tolerate rapidly in harsh environmental fluctuations and exposure to various toxic chemicals in order to survive. While, the mechanisms under which these pathogens can survive and proliferate under such extreme environmental conditions are largely unknown, a little research has been carried out on disease and disease related problems in ostrich. Present investigation/study is first ever attempting of its nature in ostrich birds in Quetta. Key Words: Ostrich, Egg, Gastrointestinal, Reproductive, Bacteria