Objectives: Nowadays large scale ostrich breeding is expanding worldwide. In developing countries, in which ostrich business is in infancy state, the industry is not well designed and defined. Therefore, mismanagement and nutritional imbalances, such as vitamin, mineral and trace element deficiencies, are among frequent observation by ostrich veterinarian. According to the literature, copper deficiency affects the lipid metabolism and is associated with aneurysms in ostrich. In this article, a case of sudden death with spontaneous hematoma in carotid artery, coincident with sever copper deficiency in an ostrich is reported which might be due to vascular aneurysm. Materials & Methods: An ostrich farmer presented a dead ostrich case with the history of sudden death and a large hematoma in neck region. He also described two more cases with history of sudden death and large blood clot in the thorax in the past 3 weeks. The age of birds ranged between 5 to 7 years. The flock had a history of low performance. Despite post mortem changes, necropsy was performed. Unfortunately, due to pm changes, no suitable sample was found to be collected for histopathology. However, a sample from liver was taken for atomic adsorption analysis of copper concentration in the tissue. Results & Conclusion: In necropsy a large hematoma and an obvious longitudinal tear was demonstrated in the carotid artery, along with hypovolemic anemia in mucus membranes and most organs. No other gross abnormalities were observed. Based on the history of malnutrition, diet imbalance and low performance in the flock, as well as necropsy findings, carotid artery dissection (aneurysm) was tentatively diagnosed. Based on the data provided by atomic adsorption analysis, concentration of the liver sample was as low as 1 ppm, however, it was not possible to confirm that the two other cases described by the farmer, were really caused by aneurysm. It was concluded that there might be a relationship between the severe copper deficiency in the case examined and possibly in the flock, and observation of the longitudinal dissection in the carotid artery, resulting in carotid artery dissection or Aneurysm in carotid artery. To our knowledge it is a first case report of sever copper deficiency con incident with carotid artery dissection.

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