Chamois blindness

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The Gämsblindheit (also Gamsblindheit) is a highly contagious disease of the eyes, sheep , goats , chamois and mountain goats (especially Rupicapra r. Rupicapra and Capra i. IBEX). It is caused by the pathogen Mycoplasma conjunctivae . This mycoplasmosis is also known as Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis IKK or IKC ( infectious keratoconjunctivitis ). Infectious keratoconjunctivids can, however, also denote diseases in veterinary medicine that are not caused by M. conjunctivae , but which are similar to chamois blindness.

Occurrence

Mycoplasma conjunctivae is common in sheep and these animals represent a reservoir of pathogens from which wild animals can be infected if they are near flocks of sheep. Epidemics are typical for chamois blindness . So far, chamois blindness has occurred in the European Alpine regions , the Pyrenees and New Zealand . Several hundred chamois have so far fallen victim to this disease. As a vector, flies may play a role in the spread of the disease.

There are indications of the importance of chamois blindness as a zoonosis ; a possible transmission and subsequent infection in humans after contact with sick animals cannot be ruled out.

Symptoms

The incubation period is very short at a few days. Inflammation and lesions of the conjunctiva and cornea (keratocojunctivitis) with discharge from the eyes are observed in the affected animals . As a result, the cornea becomes cloudy, which leads to blindness which, however, can be reversible. There may also be holes in the cornea. Loss of vision often results in falls and deaths among infected wild animals, with around 30% of infected animals dying.

In sheep, the disease can be mistaken for Chlamydia pecorum infection .

therapy

A causal therapy is not yet known. Infected farm animals must be kept separate from wild animals.

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