Gastrointestinal parasites of ostrich (Struthio camelus domesticus) raised in Iran

Document Type : Short paper

Authors

1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Graduated from Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Garmsar, Semnan, Iran

3 Department of Parasitology, Islamic Azad University of Garmsar, Semnan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction of ostrich (Struthio camelus domesticus), a new exotic host species to a new ecosystem like
Iran, necessitates the study of its infectious diseases including parasitic infestations. For a period of one year, from 2002–03, faecal samples of 254 ostriches on 5 farms located at different parts of Iran, including
Garmsar, Semnan province (n = 85); Nashtaroud, Mazandaran province (n = 29); Saveh, Central province (n
= 47); Eshtehard, Ghazvin province (n = 8) and around Tehran, Tehran province (n = 85) were examined for
gastrointestinal parasites. Our findings revealed the presence of Libostrongylus douglasii in 55% of the
examined birds in Nashtaroud and 25% of birds of Eshtehard farms. In the latter farm, 12.5% in the ostriches harboured Heterakis dispar in their alimentary canals. Oocyst of Eimeria sp. was found in ostrich on farm of Garmsar. All these parasites are reported for the first time from ostriches in Iran.

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