Observations on the efficacy of mass treatment by subconjunctival penicillin injection for the control of an outbreak of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

Authors: Sargison ND, Gwozdz MJ, West DM, Hutner JEB
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 44, Issue 4, pp 142-144, Aug 1996
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Antibiotics, Treatment/therapy, Bacterial, Eye/opthalmology, Inflammation, Disease/defect, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Clinical examination
Article class: Clinical Communication

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Abstract: Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis was diagnosed on a Manawatu beef cattle farm, with inflammation of 85% of eyes in a group of 150 6-month-old-calves. Comeal inflammation was recorded in 23% of eyes. All active lesions healed over a 3-week period following whole group subconjunctival penicillin injection. Morarellu bovis was cultured from two of seven conjunctival swabs at the time oftreatment and from four of six conjunctival swabs 9 days after treatment. Concurrently, “pink-eye” was noted in older cattle, with inflammation in 50% of eyes. For practical handling reasons, these older cattle were not treated. Despite nontreatment, their clinical signs regressed over a 3-week period. The rationale of whole group treatment for the control of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis is discussed.

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