BACTERIAL-FLORA OF CAPTIVE HOUBARA (CHLAMYDOTIS-UNDULATA), KORI (ARDEOTIS-KORI) AND RUFOUS-CRESTED (EUPODOTIS-RUFICRISTA) BUSTARDS

A survey was carried out to investigate the aerobic bacterial flora of captive houbara (Chlamydotis undulata), kori (Ardeotis kori) and rufo us-crested (Eupodotis ruficrista) bustards maintained at the National Avian Research Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. None of the ho ubara or rufous-crested bustards sampled were bred in captivity by the Center but four of the kori bustards sampled were captive-bred. Faeca l, cloacal, oropharyngeal and skin samples (from under the wing) from clinically normal bustards were taken during routine handling of the b irds. Samples were also taken from clinical cases, carcasses and faile d eggs. Culture for fungi was also carried out. Bacteria belonging to several different genera were isolated from the three species, they in cluded Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and also species of Aeromonas, Bacillus, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Micrococcu s, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Serratia, Sphingobacterium, Staph ylococcus, Streptococcus and Vibrio. Fungal cultures yielded species o f Aspergillus and Candida albicans. This appears to be the first bacte rial survey carried out on bustards and shows that they are colonized by a wide range of bacteria, some of which were also isolated from dis ease conditions.