Age-related Changes in some Blood Parameters of Ostrich (Short Communication)

The aim of this study was to investigate blood parameters of 4-month old blue-neck male ostriches (Struthio camelus) after feeding a diet containing 3% sunflower oil for two months. Blood samples were collected from the wing vein of the ostriches at the beginning and end of the study. The plasma was harvested and analyzed to measure cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total protein, albumin, total immunoglobulin, and the activities of aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase enzymes. From days 0 to 60, concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased (P < 0.05) while very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride increased significantly (P < 0.05). Other blood parameters did not change significantly. The results of this study showed that in ostrich, with increasing age from four to six months of age, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations increased whereas other factors did not.