Mycoplasmas and ovine keratoconjunctivitis

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Ophthalmology
• Microbiology
• Animal Health

Background:

• Ovine keratoconjunctivitis outbreaks can impact lamb health and productivity.
• Understanding the etiological agents is crucial for effective disease management in sheep flocks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical course and identify the causative agent of a keratoconjunctivitis outbreak in housed lambs.
• To determine the role of Mycoplasma conjunctivae in infectious ovine keratoconjunctivitis.

Main Methods:

• Clinical monitoring of affected lambs and their dams during the outbreak.
• Isolation and identification of Mycoplasma species from ocular swabs.
• Experimental inoculation of Mycoplasma conjunctivae into susceptible animals.

Main Results:

• The outbreak peaked in lambs aged 46-55 days, with 46.9% affected.
• Mycoplasma conjunctivae was isolated from 62.1% of eyes, but no direct correlation with clinical signs was found.
• Experimental inoculation induced transient keratoconjunctivitis, suggesting M. conjunctivae as a potential etiological agent.

Conclusions:

• Mycoplasma conjunctivae is a likely cause of non-follicular infectious ovine keratoconjunctivitis.
• Further research in gnotobiotic or SPF lambs is needed for definitive confirmation.
• Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae was also detected but its role remains unclear.