Contagious corneal and conjunctivitis in cattle
The infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis ( infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis , Weidekeratitis , pink eye ) is an infectious disease in cattle and is determined by the bacterium Moraxella subgenus Moraxella bovis causes the to genus Moraxella from the family Moraxellaceae from the order Pseudomonadales belongs.
Etiology and epidemiology
M. (M.) bovis occurs naturally on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and the conjunctiva of cattle. Mycoplasma , chlamydia and possibly also viruses act as pioneers for M. (M.) bovis . In addition, UV rays , dust and flies have a beneficial effect.
clinic
All age groups are susceptible, but the most common are calves and young cattle. The disease occurs mainly when grazing . The first symptoms are lacrimation , conjunctivitis with photophobia and eyelid cramps . Later it expands and corneal injuries occur, which begin with corneal inflammation and edema and later develop into purulent corneal and conjunctivitis with ulcer formation and perforation of the cornea. If there are secondary infections , the worst case scenario is a purulent inflammation of the whole eye . The vessel formation over the injured cornea appears like a reddish ring, hence the English name pink eye . Most of the time self-healing occurs, but sometimes blindness also occurs.
Diagnosis
The sample is taken from the conjunctival sac with a cotton swab or glass rod and immediately spread on an agar . The colonies can be evaluated after 24 hours.
therapy
Penicillin , tetracycline , streptomycin and sulfonamides are effective against M. (M.) bovis . The drugs can be applied locally or parenterally . Fly control is advisable. You can also have herd-specific vaccines made.
literature
- Medical microbiology, infection and epidemic theory von Rolle / Mayr, Enke Verlag Stuttgart (2007)
