Further data to the aetiology, pathogenesis and therapy of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

Out of a total of 224 bovine eye secretions, 126 Moraxella bovis and 64 Neisseria ovis strains were isolated. The pathogenesis and histological lesions caused by Neisseria ovis have been studied on the eyes of three calves naturally affected with IBK, using electron microscopy. Neisseria ovis caused in 1-12 weeks old calves acute, transient and mostly benign serous conjunctivitis with only slight affection of the cornea. More rarely erosions and even ulceration of the cornea have been observed. Moraxella bovis and Neisseria ovis strains proved nearly unanimously sensitive in vitro to chloramphenicol, neomycin, oxytetracyclin, nitrofurantoin, erythromycin and cefoperazone. Other antibiotics and chemotherapeutics inhibited the growth of these agents only partly or were ineffective. Experimental therapy has been carried out using a single i.m. injection of Terramycin/LA inj. (Pfizer) in a dose of 20 mg/kg body mass, repeated if necessary after 72-96 h. This formulation proved more effective and practical than treatments used earlier.