Greater Rhea (Rhea americana)

Eggs have protective structures against possible contamination by bacteria and fungi. Pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella spp. are therefore rarely found in adequate sanitary conditions. Few studies about the contamination of ratite eggs have been reported, and although some studies have focused on ostrich eggs, there is no information about Greater Rhea ( Rhea americana) eggs. The microorganisms that contaminate ratite eggs do not differ from those that affect other bird species. The purpose of this study was to characterise contamination in 16 eggs, supplied by a commercial breeding facility, by Enterobacteriaceae contamination and to assess the in vitro resistance to experimental contamination by Salmonella Enteritidis using analytical tests following the guidelines of the Georgia Poultry Laboratory. These elements are critical to the storage period, quality and physicochemical parameters. The results revealed the presence of the genera Proteus, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Enterobacter related to the location of nests. Greater Rhea eggs were also found to be highly resistant to experimental infection by Salmonella Enteritidis.

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Habitats selected by the endangered Greater Rhea (Rhea americana)—implications for conservation

Emu - Austral Ornithology ◽

10.1071/mu15124 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 116 (4) ◽

pp. 379-386 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

F. García Erize ◽

I. E. Gómez Villafañe

Keyword(s):

Rhea Americana ◽

Greater Rhea

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Morphology of the cardiovascular system in greater rhea (Rhea americana americana Linnaeus, 1758)

Medicina Veterinária (UFRPE) ◽

10.26605/medvet-v15n3-3582 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 174-181

Author(s):

Hélio Noberto Araújo Júnior ◽

Ferdinando Vinícius Fernandes Bezerra ◽

Radan Elvis Matias Oliveira ◽

Herson Silva Costa ◽

Gleidson Benevides Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular System ◽

Sagittal Plane ◽

Pulmonary Veins ◽

Vena Cava ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Coronary Vein ◽

Essential Information ◽

Rhea Americana ◽

Greater Rhea ◽

The Right

Greater rheas have been the subject of scientific studies in the various areas of veterinary and biology in order to obtain essential information for their captivity management. The aim of this study was to describe the morphology of the greater rhea heart. The 20 animals were incised in sagittal plane, then fixed in 3.7% formaldehyde and dissected after 72 h. In addition, samples from the cardiovascular system were collected, processed for hematoxylin-eosin and Gomori Trichrome Staining. The heart is conical in shape, dark red when fresh and is located between the hepatic lobes. It has two atria and two ventricles, and four valves (left and right atrioventricular, aortic and pulmonary). The aorta and pulmonary trunk emerge at the heart base, while the ostia of the cranial and caudal vena cava emerged from the right atrium and the right and left pulmonary veins and the left coronary vein from the left atrium. From the aorta artery, the right and left coronary arteries arose, which originated, respectively, the superficial and conal branches and the profuse, left ventricular and superficial branches, being responsible for the irrigation of the heart. Microscopically the heart was constituted by simple pavement epithelium, rich in loose connective tissue. The aorta and pulmonary arteries were composed of the intima, middle and adventitial tunics. Thus, it is concluded that the morphological findings of greater rhea resemble those described for other birds such as ostrich and Gallus gallus domesticus.

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