POSTMORTEM FINDINGS IN BUSTARDS IN THE UNITED-ARAB-EMIRATES

A review was conducted of 236 postmortem examinations of six species o f captive and imported bustards in the United Arab Emirates for the pe riod 1979-94. The most common causes of death in adult imported houbar a bustards (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) were euthanasia due to Ne wcastle disease, aspergillosis, and post-transportation-related deaths . Helminth parasites were a common finding in imported houbara bustard s, and large parasite burdens occasionally caused intestinal obstructi on and death. The most common causes of death in adult captive houbara bustards were trauma-related deaths and euthanasia for or death follo wing treatment for capture myopathy. Fatty liver change was an importa nt postmortem finding of captive adult houbara bustards. The main caus e of death in juvenile houbara bustards was yolk-sac infection and sep ticemia The most common causes of death in adult kori bustards (Ardeot is kori) were capture myopathy and handling injuries or euthanasia fol lowing these injuries. The most common causes of death in adult rufous crested bustards (Eupodotis ruficrista) were post-transportation death s in imported birds and trichomoniasis and trauma in captive birds. Ju venile rufous-crested bustards appeared to be highly susceptible to gi zzard impactions and foreign-body obstructions of the gastrointestinal tract. Nutritional bone disease is an important disease of all juveni le bustards, particularly kori and houbara bustards. Aspergillosis was also a common postmortem finding in captive and imported adult houbar a bustards and also caused mortality in juvenile kori and houbara bust ards.