Micro-anatomical changes occurring in the mucosal epithelium of gastrointestinal tract components of ostriches fed ration including or excluding grit in botswana

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the micro-anatomical changes occurring in the luminal epithelium of some gastrointestinal tract (GIT) components of ostriches with and without access to grit in Botswana. Fourteen ostrich chicks aged nine weeks and raised on concrete without access to grit were randomly assigned to two feeding groups i.e. with or without access to grit groups. Each feeding group had seven birds raised in a pen 30 meters long by 6 meters wide. All ostriches. were fed and watered ad libitum. From week 24 an ostrich from each group was slaughtered monthly. The GIT was removed and dissected into its component parts. Specimens of each GIT component were preserved in 10%. formalin and histology slides prepared for analysis. Measurements of epithelial features and photography were taken. The data was analyzed using SAS 9.1 2002-2003. The height of the proventricular epithelium for the ostriches exposed to grit (232.68±17.29pm) was significantly (p<0.05) shorter than those not exposed to grit (528.93±17.29pm). Likewise the height of the ventricular luminal cornified layer of the ostriches exposed to grit (157.50±6.46pm) was also significantly shorter than those not exposed to grit (408.87±6.46pm). There was also evidence of erosion on the luminal epithelium of the proventriculus and the cornified layer of the gizzard of the ostriches exposed to grit but not in those not exposed to grit There was no significant difference between the height of the small intestinal luminal epithelium of the grit group of ostriches (587.00±29.90pm) and the no grit group of ostriches (590.56±29.90pm). Further studies should be done on feed utilization by the two groups.