For the first time, it was identified a mite in a three-year-old male ostrich that had lost feathers and showed skin irritation. The animal belonged to a flock of 50 birds, located in Baixada Fluminense, in Rio de Janeiro State. After they were fixed in 70% alcohol, clarifyed in lactophenol and mounted in Canada balsam, the mites were identified in the laboratory. They belonged to the Pterolichidae family and Struthioperolichus sculpturatus species (Hirst). The ostrich was treated by ivermectin in dose of 200µg/kg of body weight, with recovery and disappearance of the clinical symptoms. The occurrence of mite infestation by the described species in ostrich should be monitored by professionals and farmers, as they cause fall of feathers and economic losses.
ostrich; mites; feathers
