Colibacillosis and its Management in Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

Emus are flightless large birds and native of Australia. Scientific knowledge of emu diseases is incomplete and very fragmented with specific details on technical aspect of diagnostic and screening tests. It is almost completely absent in most cases. Emu's are sturdy birds and resistant to most infection, however, among bacterial infection E. coli is most common sp. causing mortality in both chicks and adult. Still there is paucity of literature regarding colibacillosis in Emu's. In the present case two sick Emu birds were reported in the Emu unit of Bihar Veterinary College campus. Blood was collected for haemato-biochemical studies. Faecal samples were examined for presence of any parasitic infections. Also culture and sensitivity tests were done. They were found positive for E. coli infection after laboratory diagnosis. Amikacin was found to be most effective after culture and sensitivity test. Both birds were successfully treated with Amikacin antibiotics along with supportive therapy. Both of them started improving from 3^rd days and completely recovered in 12 days.