Prolapse of the phallus and cloaca in the ostrich (Struthio camelus).

Abstract

The incidence of cloacal prolapse in ostrich chicks hatched and raised on the Oudtshoorn Experimental Farm during the 1992-1993 breeding season was investigated. The condition which occurred primarily in male chicks, affected 14.65% of the total number of chicks hatched. The mortality rate amongst chicks with cloacal prolapse was very high. Although the pathogenesis and aetiology of the condition is unknown, a species of Cryptosporidium was present in large numbers in affected cloacas. Treatment with systemic antibiotics was found to be effective in some cases.