Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) aka Pink Eye Flashcards
1
Q
What is the causative agent of pink eye?
A
Moraxella bovis
2
Q
Is this disease economically important?
A
YES - results in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses each year
3
Q
What are the less common organisms to cause pink eye?
A
- Chlamydia
- Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (bovine herpesvirus - 1)
- Mycoplasma
- Neisseria catarrhalis
4
Q
What are the environmental factors regarding pink eye?
A
- excessive UV light (lack of pigmentation results in inflammation, thus sensitizing the eye to infection)
- flies (Musca domestica aka the house fly and Musca autumnalis aka the face fly irritate the eye by feeding off secretions and serve as a vector)
- dust & plant material (airborne irritant, mechanical vectors such as plant awns, overhead feeders are more likely to irritate the eye)
5
Q
How is pink eye transmitted?
A
- FLIES
- direct contact
- inanimate object
- infected and asymptomatic carriers harbor infection in nasal secretions
- higher incidence in summer & fall due to increased flies, UV light, and pollen
6
Q
Clinical signs associated with pink eye
A
- younger cattle more commonly affected
- conjunctivitis
- blepharospasm
- small opaque region in the center of cornea that progresses to a deep ulceration
- other systemic signs
7
Q
How is pin eye diagnosed?
A
submit conjunctival swab and lacrimal secretion for culture
8
Q
Treatment of pink eye
A
- Abx (oxytetracycline)**
- surgical intervention
- eliminate environmental factors**
- prevent other predisposing diseases **
- vaccination is NOT consistently effective, therefor not yet in widespread use
