“Pinkeye, or keratoconjunctivitis, is an infectious disease of cattle that costs producers money in several ways,” says Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian. He and Neil Dyer, an NDSU pathologist, notes that the bacteria Moraxella bovis is one of the primary agents in pinkeye, although Moraxella ovus and Moraxella bovoculi have also been isolated. Managing pinkeye requires using the most modern vaccines containing relevant isolates.
AHD sponsor Addison Biological Laboratory, reminds us that Moraxella ovus is rarely seen and that commercial vaccines are available with eight isolates that provide a very broad protection against nearly all relevant pinkeye strains.
Source: Bovine Veterinarian, September 27, 2017.
Other risk factors contribute significantly to outbreaks of pinkeye. They include ultraviolet light; high fly numbers; environment conditions such as dust, wind, tall grass, weeds and pollen; co-infections with bacteria and viruses; close confinement of animals; and animals without pigment around their eyes. Nutrition also may play a role; inadequate vitamin A levels have contributed to the disease.
INSIGHTS: Bovine pinkeye is a significant disease that has become tougher to prevent because it can now be caused by multiple organisms. Sponsor Addison Biological Laboratory is known as the leader in this category and provides vaccinations against Moraxella bovis (MAXI/GUARD Pinkeye Bacterin) and Moraxella bovoculi (new and conditionally licensed Moraxella bovoculi Bacterin). It also offer autogenous services in rare cases where commercially available products do not keep the disease from occurring.
For more information see:
- MAXI/GUARD Pinkeye Bacterin to: https://addisonlabs.com/product/maxiguard-pinkeye-bacterin/
- Moraxella bovoculi Bacterin to: https://addisonlabs.com/product/moraxella-bovoculi-bacterin/
- Autogenous services to: https://addisonlabs.com/product/moraxella-bovoculi/