A unified serotyping scheme for Moraxella bovis.

Fifty-three Australian, seven British, two American and two New Zealand isolates of Moraxella bovis were classified into seven serogroups on the basis of their variable fimbrial (pilus) antigens using whole cell slide agglutination (SA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and tandem-crossed immunoelectrophoresis (TCIE). Although results of serogroup classification by SA and ELISA were identical in 68.7% of isolates, it was found necessary to resolve the discrepancies between the two systems using TCIE. Results suggest that world-wide variation in the potentially host-protective fimbrial antigens of M. bovis may be relatively limited. It is proposed that the previous numerical classifications of British and Australian serogroups are appropriately amalgamated as a result of this latest study and are designated as serogroups A to G inclusive. A protocol for the further serotyping of fresh, fimbriate isolates of M. bovis is suggested.     

Immunogenicity of a Moraxella bovis bacterin containing attachment and cornea-degrading enzyme antigens

An adjuvanted Moraxella bovis bacterin containing attachment antigens and cornea-degrading enzyme antigens protected cattle from infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) when experimentally challenged with homologous and heterologous challenge cultures of M. bovis. This bacterin also protected cattle against field exposure to M. bovis. Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescein labeled anti-M. bovis pili antiserum showed pili on the M. bovis bacterin strain. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated a fibrillar glycocalyx. The bacterin strain of M. bovis, but not all strains of M. bovis, destroyed bovine corneal cell monolayers in vitro. Bovine corneal cells began to separate from each other within 5 min after M. bovis organisms were added and adhered to the cell monolayers. Moraxella bovis organisms remained attached to the disintegrating cells as the cell membrane separated and was digested. Vaccination stimulated bacterial agglutination antibodies. However, protection against experimental challenge was more closely related to the cornea-degrading enzyme content of the experimental bacterins. Twenty-two of 29 cattle (76%) vaccinated with bacterins containing a relative enzyme activity (REA) greater than 0.4 were protected in a rigorous challenge of immunity test. Only 1 of 21 non-vaccinated calves (5%) was free of IBK. Ninety-two percent (24/26) of calves vaccinated with a bacterin containing a REA greater than 0.29 remained free of IBK following field exposure, whereas 47% (8/17) non-vaccinated calves developed IBK. Only 8 of 12 calves (67%) vaccinated with a bacterin containing a REA of 0.09 remained free of IBK. In a larger field efficacy test consisting of 32 herds in six states, the incidence of IBK in individual herds ranged from 0% to 55%. The overall rate of infection was 11.2%. Vaccination of calves with an M. bovis bacterin that contained a REA of 0.63 reduced the incidence of IBK from 11.2% (217/1931) in the non-vaccinated controls to 4.3% (66/1520) in cattle vaccinated once and to 3.1% (48/1536) in cattle vaccinated twice.     

Characterisation and quantitation of pilus antigens of Moraxella bovis by ELISA

Hyperimmune serums raised in rabbits to purified pili from 9 Australian and 2 American strains of Moraxella bovis from infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) affected herds were used to study the degree of binding between combinations of antigen and antiserum in a conventional enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). With the aid of appropriate absorption tests major antigenic differences among pili were found permitting 6 distinct serogroups to be recognised. Further, production of specific antiserums to representative strains of each serogroup in goats facilitated the development of a double antibody sandwich ELISA which could be used to quantitate pilus expression of a given strain of M. bovis, or to differentiate pilus serogroups of 22 strains of M. bovis obtained from a total of 12 Australian herds. Most isolates were found to belong to serogroups designated IV and V. One strain from the United States of America showed total homology with Australian serogroup IV while the other showed some cross-reactivity with serogroups V and VI.     

Serologic response of vaccinated cattle to strains of Moraxella bovis isolated during epizootics of keratoconjunctivitis.

In studies to determine whether there were antigenic differences between strains (isolates) of Moraxella bovis, the sera from vaccinated calves were tested with isolates of M bovis while the calves were experiencing epizootics of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). Before the epizootics of IBK, the calves were intramuscularly vaccinated with a formalin-killed autogenous M bovis bacterin. During the epizootics, the eyes were examined by cultural technique, and isolates which were obtained were categorized by catalase activity, source (diseased or nondiseased eyes), and reactivity with the various sera. The serum reactivity of the isolates was compared with that of the vaccinal strain. The vaccinal strain and 8 of the 1 5 selected isolates obtained during the 1974 epizootic were catalase negative. Seven of the 15 isolates from the 1974 epizootic and all of the selected isolates from the 1975 epizootic were catalase positive. A significantly higher (P less than 0.01) percentage of calf sera were serologically reactive with the vaccinal strain and other catalase-negative isolates (45.0%) than with catalase-positive isolates (34.8%). The results, although not definitive, suggest that there may be antigenic differences among strains of M bovis. These differences should be considered when cattle are vaccinated against IBK under natural conditions of exposure.     

Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis: A Review

The economic impact of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) warrants continued investigation of the mechanisms by which Moraxella bovis survives on and colonizes the corneal surface. Virulent strains of M bovis produce hemolysin and exhibit different plasmid profiles than nonvirulent strains. Interactions among host, environment, vector, season, and concurrent infection influence the prevalence of IBK. Mycoplasma sp. or infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus may enhance or hasten the disease process. The manifestations of IBK may range from mild conjunctivitis to severe ulceration, corneal perforation, and blindness. Treatment of IBK is dictated by economic considerations, intended animal use, and feasibility of administration. Antibiotic therapy is aimed at achieving drug concentrations in tears to meet or exceed the minimum inhibitory concentration for prolonged periods. At present, IBK is not a preventable disease. Affected animals must be separated from the herd and vector control vigorously instituted. Carrier animals must be identified and removed from the herd. Vaccination trials have been unsuccessful because of pili antigen crossreactivity, variable strains, and uncontrolled environmental factors. Recent investigations have determined that M bovis may utilize host iron sources via iron-repressible outer membrane proteins and siderophores for growth. Elucidation of normal defense mechanisms of the bovine eye may lead to new strategies to enhance the immune response against M bovis.     

Serologic cross-reactivity of Australian Moraxella bovis to vaccinal bacterin strains as determined by competitive ELISA

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a serologic survey and define pili antigenic variability via the serologic cross-reactivity of Moraxella bovis isolates from naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) outbreaks in Australia. This project applies to the development of an M bovis pili-based vaccine targeting Australian strains originating from intensive cattle producing regions. PROCEDURE: Ocular swabs were collected from cattle affected with clinical signs of IBK from 25 veterinary practices. Standard criteria were used to identify 70 M bovis. Pure, piliated isolates were evaluated with a modified competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for cell-bound M bovis pili to determine their serologic cross-reactivity with pili of vaccinal bacterin strains EPP63, FLA64, and SAH 38. RESULTS: Sixty-four percent (45/70) of M bovis isolates demonstrated homologous pili antigens to a vaccinal strain. M bovis isolates homologous to one of the three vaccinal strains were obtained in 77% (34/44) of IBK outbreaks sampled. No IBK outbreak had isolates homologous to more than one vaccinal strain; however, 29% (10/34) of outbreaks with a cross-reacting strain had non-cross-reacting strains as well. CONCLUSION: The similar prevalence of pilus antigen homology to strain FLA64 was observed with isolates derived from NSW, Tasmania, and Victoria, compared with results of prior smaller serologic studies, suggests that the common pilus antigens in M bovis within Australia have been relatively stable over the last 20 years. The prevalence of a limited number of pilus antigens in M bovis suggest that the application of a vaccine containing the bacterial strains EPP63, FLA64, and SAH38 may provide a useful management tool for reducing production losses associated with IBK in Australia.     

Detection of Moraxella bovis antibodies in the SIgA, IgG, and IgM classes of immunoglobulin in bovine lacrimal secretions by an indirect fluorescent antibody test.

The relationship between clinical infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) and Moraxella bovis antibodies was evaluated in a herd of calves during one summer. The detection and the distribution of antibody response in lacrimal secretions of beef calves to natural exposure of M bovis were determined by an indirect fluorescent antibody test. Three classes of immunoglobulins--secretory IgA, IgM, and IgG--were monitored in lacrimal secretions over a 5-month period when IBK was enzootic in the herd. The 3 classes of antibody to M bovis were detected in all but 2 calves at the start of the monitoring, and the highest and most persistent M bovis antibody titers were in the IgG immunoglobulin class, and less so in IgM and secretory IgA classes. The specific antibodies present in the lacrimal secretions did not prevent the development of clinical IBK in the calves.     

Assessment of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109J killing of Moraxella bovis in an in vitro model of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

The objective of this study was to determine the potential of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109J as an alternative non-chemotherapeutic treatment of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). To accomplish this, various parameters of B. bacteriovorus predation of Moraxella bovis were determined in vitro. Initial passage of B. bacteriovorus using M. bovis as prey required 10 d for active cultures to develop compared with 2 d for culture on normal Escherichia coli prey; however by the 5th passage, time to active predatory morphology was reduced to 2 d. This high passage B. bacteriovorus culture [1 × 10(10) plaque forming units (PFU)/mL] killed 76% of M. bovis [1 × 10(7) colony forming units (CFU)/mL] present in suspension broth in a 4 h assay. The minimal level of M. bovis supporting B. bacteriovorus predation was 1 × 10(4) CFU/mL. To assess the ability of B. bacteriovorus to kill M. bovis on an epithelial surface mimicking IBK, an in vitro assay with Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells inoculated with 4 × 10(7) CFU/mL M. bovis was used. Treatment with a B. bacteriovorus suspension (1.6 × 10(11) PFU/mL) decreased adherence of M. bovis to MDBK cells by 6-fold at 12 h of treatment, as well as decreased the number of unattached M. bovis cells by 1.4-fold. This study demonstrates that B. bacteriovorus has potential as an effective biological control of M. bovis at levels likely present in IBK-infected corneal epithelia and ocular secretions.     

Vaccination against infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis: protective efficacy and antibody response induced by pili of homologous and heterologous strains of Moraxella bovis

The protective effect of 2 Moraxella bovis pili vaccines against infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) experimentally induced by homologous or heterologous strain challenge with virulent, haemolytic M. bovis strain, Dal 2d, was measured in trials using weaned calves aged 3 to 7 months. Purified pili vaccines were prepared from haemolytic strain Dal 2d, (pilus serogroup IV), and haemolytic strain Epp 63, (pilus serogroup III). Calves were challenged by conjunctival instillation of 1 x 10(9) colony forming units of virulent M. bovis strain Dal 2d 14 days after the second of 2 subcutaneous doses of vaccine. Each consisted of 200 micrograms of pili in alum-oil adjuvant administered at an interval of 21 days. In trial 1 the level of protection against challenge with the homologous strain was 46.7% (p less than 0.01). Small, rapidly resolving lesions of IBK occurred in some vaccinates compared with a larger proportion of severe lesions that required treatment in non-vaccinated calves (p less than 0.025). In trial 2, the level of protection against IBK after exposure of vaccinates to the homologous Dal 2d strain was 72.7%, but no significant level of protection or reduction in the size and duration of lesions was apparent in similarly challenged calves vaccinated with Epp 63 pili when contrasted with susceptible, non-vaccinated controls. No marked reduction in the duration of infection with M. bovis Dal 2d following challenge resulted from vaccination with pili of either of the serogroups III or IV. Rising homologous serum IgG antibody titres to serogroups III and IV pili were recorded in response to vaccination with each antigen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Molecular and phenotypic analysis of Moraxella spp. associated with infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis in Uruguay

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) is a common ocular disease of cattle, which is generally thought to be caused by Moraxella bovis. However, a recently characterized Moraxella, M. bovoculi, has been isolated from animals with IBK. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize strains of Moraxella spp. obtained from IBK cases in different geographic locations within Uruguay. Ribosomal gene sequencing indicated that there were two groups of isolates that showed homology with either M. bovis or M. bovoculi. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the presence of two species as the isolates grouped in different branches of the dendrogram. Conventional biochemical characterization did not distinguish between the species; only 9/25 isolates which had genetic homology with M. bovoculi showed any differences in biochemistry.     

Prevention of naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis with a recombinant Moraxella bovis pilin-Moraxella bovis cytotoxin-ISCOM matrix adjuvanted vaccine

To evaluate the efficacy of a recombinant Moraxella bovis pilin-M. bovis cytotoxin subunit vaccine to prevent naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK; pinkeye), a randomized, blinded, controlled field trial was conducted during summer 2005 in a northern California herd of beef cattle. One hundred and one steers were vaccinated with ISCOM matrix (adjuvant control), recombinant M. bovis cytotoxin carboxy terminus+ISCOM matrix (MbxA), or recombinant M. bovis pilin-cytotoxin carboxy terminus+ISCOM matrix (pilin-MbxA); calves received secondary vaccinations 21 days later. Calves were examined once weekly for 18 weeks for the development of corneal ulcers associated with IBK. Overall, the pilin-MbxA vaccinated group had the lowest overall cumulative proportion of ulcerated calves. Calves that received MbxA, whether alone or with pilin had significantly higher M. bovis cytotoxin serum neutralizing titers as compared to control calves. Results of ocular cultures suggested that vaccination with an M. bovis antigen affected organism type isolated from an ulcer: M. bovis was cultured more often from the eyes of control calves than from the eyes of calves vaccinated with MbxA and pilin-MbxA. In addition, vaccination of calves with MbxA and pilin-MbxA resulted in a higher prevalence of Moraxella bovoculi sp. nov. in ocular cultures. While no significant difference was observed between a cytotoxin versus pilin+cytotoxin vaccine against IBK, the reduced cumulative proportion of IBK in the pilin-cytotoxin vaccinated calves suggests it may provide an advantage over a cytotoxin vaccine alone. Efficacy of an M. bovis vaccine may be reduced in herds where IBK is associated with M. bovoculi sp. nov.     

Immunogenicity of Moraxella bovis hemolysin

Anti-Moraxella bovis hemolysin activity was observed in 35 cattle exposed to field infections of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). All cattle in infected herds seroconverted with respect to antihemolysin whether or not clinical IBK was noted. Cattle previously exposed to IBK possessed higher antihemolysin titers than did younger, nonexposed cattle. Antihemolysin activity was noted in bovine sera up to 7 years after exposure to IBK. Sera from experimentally infected calves were found to possess antihemolytic activity against all 33 strains of M bovis tested. Antihemolytic activity could be demonstrated in random-bred mice inoculated with whole doxycycline-treated M bovis, frozen or lyophilized whole M bovis, and membrane fractions treated with sodium lauryl sarcosinate, Triton X 100, and Triton X 100 + EDTA, but not with formalin-treated whole M bovis.     

Effectiveness of a cytolysin-enriched vaccine for protection of cattle against infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the immunogenicity of a Moraxella bovis cytolysin-enriched vaccine for prevention of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). ANIMALS: 104 mixed-breed beef calves ranging between 4 and 8 months of age. PROCEDURE: Vaccines were prepared by the diafiltration of broth culture supernatant from hemolytic M bovis or sterile media. The diafiltered retentate was combined with Quil A adjuvant. Calves were randomly assigned to receive either the cytolysin vaccine (n = 35) or, as controls, adjuvant (35) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (34). Eyes of all calves were examined weekly for signs of IBK for 15 weeks. Calves that developed severe IBK were treated SC with florfenicol. RESULTS: Cytolysin vaccine contained 4 proteins with molecular masses ranging between 65 and 90 kd. Cytolysin-vaccinated calves had fewer instances of IBK than control calves. The time of onset of corneal lesions in cytolysin-vaccinated calves that developed IBK was delayed, compared with that of calves in either control group. The cytolysin-Quil A vaccine contained endotoxin, but calves did not have clinical signs of illness after vaccination. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Calves that were vaccinated with a cytolysin-enriched vaccine had some resistance to IBK. Vaccines containing concentrated diafiltered M bovis cytolysin could protect beef calves against IBK.     

Effectiveness of two commercial infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis vaccines

Two commercially available infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) vaccines were evaluated for their effectiveness in protecting cattle from disease caused by experimental challenge exposure and natural transmission of Moraxella bovis infections. The study was conducted as 2 experiments, using a total of 81 cattle that were culture-negative for M bovis prior to vaccination. In each experiment, young adult cattle were randomly allotted to 4 groups. Each calf in groups 1 and 2 was vaccinated according to the vaccine manufacturer's directions. Groups 3 and 4 were unvaccinated controls. Three weeks after the last vaccination, each calf in groups 1 and 3 was experimentally challenge exposed by dropping a suspension of viable cells of a virulent strain of M bovis directly onto the corneal surface of each eye. Calves in all 4 groups were then commingled in open pastures so that calves in groups 2 and 4 could be naturally exposed to the calves with experimentally induced infections. Each calf was examined for signs of ocular disease on a regular basis by 2 experienced clinicians who scored each eye for severity of disease on the basis of a prearranged scale. Neither clinician was aware of the vaccination or exposure status of the calf nor to which experimental group they belonged. Lacrimal secretions were collected regularly to determine the number of eyes in which the virulent organism became established. Moraxella bovis with bacterial cultural characteristics similar to those of the virulent strain placed in the eyes of groups 1 and 3 was cultured from greater than or equal to 83% of the eyes of calves in all groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Whole-bacterial cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for cell-bound Moraxella bovis pili

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), caused by Moraxella bovis, is a disease of major importance in cattle industry. M. bovis has several virulence factors among which pili are crucial antigen for the protective capacity of vaccines against this disease. The production of vaccines against IBK therefore requires a reliable technique for cellular piliation level assessment on cells to be included as vaccine components. In this study we describe a specific whole-bacterial cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bact-ELISA) capable of detecting pili antigen on M. bovis cell surface. A sequential competitive bact-ELISA was developed using highly piliated M. bovis cells as antigen. Samples to be analyzed were allowed to react with anti-pilus serum prior to incubation in wells coated with piliated cells of M. bovis. This assay proved useful for the rapid, sensitive and reproducible evaluation of piliation on M. bovis cells, and represents an important tool for cellular piliation monitoring daburing M. bovis cells production in stirred bioreactors.     

Evaluation of cytokines as adjuvants of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis vaccines

In this work two cytokines were used in combination with inactivated bacteria (bacterin) to test the bovine conjuctival immune response to the pathogen Moraxella bovis, the causative agent of Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). Treatments using the bacterin vaccine combined with interleukin-2 and interferon-α as adjuvants (Group A), the bacterin vaccine only (Group B), and controls without treatment (Group C), were applied by ocular spraying to evaluate the local immune response in the corneal structure of cattle experimentally infected with M. bovis. Six weeks after infection, 14 out of a total of 34 animals presented different corneal lesions; 9 corresponding to the control group C, 4 to the group B and only one to the group A. According to the clinical manifestations, a numeric score was calculated. Control animals presented the highest score value (12 points), followed by group B (7.5 points) and group A (1 point). These results suggest that the addition of cytokines to M. bovis treatments can reduce not only eye injuries caused by IBK but also the number of diseased animals.     

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis: seasonal variation in cultural, biochemical and immunoreactive properties of Moraxella bovis isolated from the eyes of cattle

The eyes of 20 young cattle were examined over an 18 month period in which 12 members of the group contracted infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). On each of 23 occasions cultural, biochemical and immunoreactive properties of up to 6 isolates of Moraxella bovis derived from each eye were determined. Relationships between the clinical response of eyes, phenotypic properties of M. bovis and annual variations in the level of solar ultraviolet radiation of 280 to 320 nm wavelength were examined. M. bovis was isolated from all IBK-affected and some unaffected eyes less than one month after the maximum annual level of the mean weekly UV radiation (2,840 mWh.m-2 X nm-1) was recorded. A high proportion of M. bovis from IBK lesions were simultaneously active in haemolysis, agar corrosion, gelatin liquefaction and litmus milk peptonisation. Some of these characteristics showed marked dissociation despite consistent reactivity in the fluorescent antibody test, which had a sensitivity and specificity of 95%. Fall in the mean weekly level of UV radiation below 1,438 mWh X m-2 X nm-1 in autumn was accompanied by healing of ulcers, persistent scar formation and a decline in the number of M. bovis isolated from affected eyes. A slower decline in the number of M. bovis isolated from apparently healthy eyes occurred in the winter and occasional fresh IBK lesions occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis: experimental induction of infection in calves with mycoplasmas and Moraxella bovis.

Eyes of 14 calves were exposed by conjunctival instillation to cultures of either Mycoplasma conjunctivae (6 calves) or Acholeplasma laidlawii (8 calves). Calves were observed for clinical signs of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), and eyes were examined for the test organisms by bacteriologic cultural technique for 60 days. Acholeplasma laidlawii became established in the eyes of 5 of 8 calves; M conjunctivae became established in the eyes of 4 of 6 calves. On day 28, eyes of 9 of the 14 calves were exposed by conjunctival instillation to Moraxella bovis, and all developed IBK. Five calves exposed to Moraxenjunctivae or A laidlawii, but not to Mor bovis, did not develop IBK. Four calves not exposed to M conjunctivae or A laidlawii, but exposed to Mor bovis, developed IBK. Mycoplasmas do not have a major role in IBK, but might produce ancillary effects similar to those of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, wind, ultraviolet radiation, dust, and other irritants.     

The protective efficacy of pili from different strains of Moraxella bovis within the same serogroup against infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis.

Three groups of ten calves were each immunised with a total of 400 micrograms pili prepared from three separate strains of Moraxella bovis in Alhydrogel-oil adjuvant as two divided, equal doses 21 days apart. Groups 1 and 2 each received a monovalent vaccine made from strain 4L and S276R respectively, which belonged to pili serogroup A. Group 3 received vaccine made from pili of strain Maff1, belonging to serogroup F. A further group of ten calves served as non-vaccinated controls. Calves in groups 1 and 2 had developed serogroup A-specific antibody and those in group 3 developed serogroup F-specific antibody, and some evidence of cross-reacting antibody was also detected when measured by an agglutination test using formalin-killed piliated cells of serogroup A strain 4L. Although antibody titres measured against purified pili by ELISA were highest with homologous serogroup antigens, cross-reactive titres to shared epitopes of M. bovis pili were also detected by this method. Ocular challenge of the 40 calves with virulent M. bovis of serogroup A strain S276R was carried out 14 days after the second vaccine dose. All non-vaccinated calves developed infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). The percentage protection in groups 1 (strain 4L) and 2 (strain S276R) was 60% and 80% respectively (P less than 0.05), with mean lesion scores of 0.7 and 0.3 out of a possible 6.0. The percentage protection of calves in group 3 (strain Maff1) was only 30%, with a mean lesion score of 1.4 compared with 2.2 for non-vaccinated controls. The present findings, together with other evidence indicating that immunity to IBK is serogroup-specific, suggest that inclusion of pili from one representative strain from each of the seven Australian and British serogroups in a polyvalent, subunit vaccine should effectively protect the majority of cattle against IBK caused by most field strains of M. bovis encountered in Australia and the United Kingdom.     

Cytopathic effects of Moraxella bovis on cultured bovine neutrophils and corneal epithelial cells

The effects of Moraxella bovis on the morphologic features of purified bovine neutrophils and bovine corneal epithelial cells were examined, using transmission and scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Within 2 minutes after incubation of bovine neutrophils with living M bovis, electron microscopic cellular changes included vacuolation, swelling, and loss of microplicae. Most of the neutrophils were lysed by 10 minutes of incubation. Human neutrophils phagocytosed the M bovis and remained intact, even after 30 minutes of incubation with the bacteria. Living M bovis killed bovine corneal epithelial cells in vitro. Sterile filtrates prepared from 6-hour shaker cultures of M bovis also killed bovine corneal epithelial cells, but the cytotoxic activity was less than that produced by the living bacteria. Cellular changes were first observed in specimens collected 1 hour after corneal cell monolayers were inoculated with sterile culture filtrates. The changes in these cells included pit-like lesions on the cellular surface, cellular separation, and vacuolation.