Matt Hill, DVM, PhD, is quoted in this article saying, “Pinkeye IS a multifactorial disease; it’s not a simple case of ‘this pathogen equals this disease.’ Hill and Laura Meier, DVM, agree that fly load and subsequent corneal damage are major factors that precede Moraxella sp. infections.
Hill believes pinkeye tends to follow a cyclical pattern, with severe outbreaks often followed by milder years, sometimes on a three-year cycle. He indicates a lack of confidence in commercial vaccine efficacy under all conditions. Meier recommends using insect growth regulators to break the flies’ life cycle but offers caution on treatment types and advocates patience and veterinary guidance.
Source: Progressive Cattle, July 9, 2026. Link.
Commentary, Sponsor content
For certain, a pinkeye outbreak can shatter the peacefulness of summer herd checks. Also certain is that many articles published about infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis or, pinkeye in cattle, may be confusing regarding a) what conditions predispose calves to infection(s), b) what vector(s) are responsible for disease transfer and c) what bacteria cause pinkeye infections or may be present as cofactors or co-pathogens in an infected animal.
Addison Biological Laboratory’s founder Bruce Addison is a pioneer in pinkeye diagnostics, as well as autogenous and commercial vaccine production. He has been working with pinkeye disease for nearly 50 years and has processed countless bacteria samples. In this past AHD Sponsor post, he shares clarifications on causes of eye injuries, flies, and pinkeye pathogens. See: Avoid confusion about pinkeye in cattle, AHD Archives, June 17, 2025. Link.
Moraxella bovis generally does not cause infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis unless there is damage to the cornea. Moraxella bovoculi is also a pinkeye pathogen. It attaches to Moraxella bovis as well as the damaged cornea and produces a toxin.”
Also see: Search results for: cattle pinkeye, AHD Archives. Link.
INSIGHTS: Ultimately, pinkeye disease prevention requires a consistent focus on fly control, cutting tall grass or weeds and offering cattle loafing areas that reduce bunching. Attention to environmental factors supports vaccinations using Moraxella bovis and Moraxella bovoculi bacterins.
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