Targeted next-generation sequencing assay to detect 3 Moraxella spp. directly from bovine ocular swabs

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) is associated with 2 species of Moraxella: M. bovis and M. bovoculi. A third novel Moraxella spp., designated tentatively as M. oculi, has been identified from the eyes of cattle with and without pinkeye. These 3 Moraxella spp. can be found in various combinations within the same clinical sample, making speciation of this genus directly from a sample impossible with Sanger sequencing. Assessing Moraxella diversity found in IBK- and non-IBK-affected cattle eyes, independent of culture, may provide additional information about IBK by avoiding the selectivity bias of culturing. We developed a targeted NGS panel to detect and speciate these 3 Moraxella spp. directly from bovine ocular swabs. Our targeted panel amplifies bacterial essential genes and the 16S-23S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer region (ITS) of the 3 Moraxella spp. and speciates based on these sequences. Our panel was able to differentiate the 3 species directly from DNA extracted from 13 swabs (6 from healthy animals, 7 from animals with IBK), and every swab except one (clinically healthy eye) had the 3 Moraxella spp. Targeted NGS with sequencing of Moraxella spp. housekeeping genes appears to be a suitable method for speciation of Moraxella directly from ocular swabs.