Bovine infectious keratoconjunctivitis: serological aspects of Moraxella bovis infection

A modification of a gel diffusion precipitin test (GDPT) was used to detect antibodies for Moraxella bovis (M. bovis) in the sera of cattle affected with bovine infectious keratoconjunctivitis (BIK). The test was also used for the detection of sequential antibody development in cattle vaccinated with cultures of M. bovis. Also, strains of M. bovis isolated from cattle herds affected with BIK were characterized serologically as a part of an identification scheme using the test.A comparison of the antigenic properties of various strains of M. bovis and M. bovis-like organisms was conducted using the test. The results indicated that there might be antigenic relationships between M. bovisand M. bovis-like organisms such as Moraxella liquefaciens, Moraxella nonliquefaciens, an unidentified hemolytic diplococcus, Mima polymorpha, Mima polymorpha var. oxidans and Herellea vaginicolaThe authors suggest that the GDPT can be used for serological studies of BIK, and the identification and antigenic analysis of M. bovis. They indicate, however, that a more definitive study is needed to evaluate the reliability of the test for quantitative work.