Commentary including sponsored content from Addison Biological Laboratory.
Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, also known as pinkeye, is a common eye disease cattle producers hate treating. Routinely transmitted by flies, pinkeye’s frequently observed pathogens are Moraxella bovis, Moraxella bovoculi, Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovoculi and bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) <link>.
Our propensity to abbreviate causes confusion and sometimes results in assuming even properly administered vaccines have failed. Think about it:
- Moraxella bovoculi and Mycoplasma bovoculi are both abbreviated as bovoculi.
- BUT, Mycoplasma bovoculi does NOT cause pinkeye, rather it is locally immunosuppressive which may severely compromise protection induced by vaccination.
Source: Understanding pinkeye; a laboratory overview, Addison Biological Laboratory. Link
Samples submitted by breaking herds are more than twice as likely (70/30) to be positive for Mycoplasma bovoculi than not.
INSIGHTS: Many thanks to our colleagues at Addison for sharing laboratory testing information to demonstrate the challenge Mycoplasma sp. puts on pinkeye vaccination and the very real potential for misunderstanding when we abbreviate.
Addison Biological Laboratory is a long-term sponsor of Animal Health Digest. Thank you!