Observation of the Growth Trends of Mycoplasma bovis with Four Different Antigen Quantitation Methods

To explore the antigen harvest time of Mycoplasma bovis (M.bovis) and the antigen quantitation alternative method,M.bovis 08M strain was inoculated in the Thiaucourt's medium.Four growth curve plottings were made by measuring color change units (CCU),colony forming units (CFU),protein concentration and nucleic acid levels.Both the results of CCU and CFU counts showed that the growth of M.bovis was divided into four phases,the logarithmic phase appeared after being cultrured 10 h,the stationary phase appeared at 30 h with the highest number of viable cells up to 1.0×10⁸ CCU/mL and 7.7×10⁷ CFU/mL,and the decline phase started at 75 h.The protein concentration of M.bovis increased rapidly from 15 to 35 h,reached 72.06 μg/mL at 35 h,then maintained at 58.38 to 70.65 μg/mL.The nucleic acid levels of M.bovis increased rapidly from 15 h,and the cycle threshold (Ct) values were maintained between 15.32 to 17.84 after 25 h.These results indicated that there was a good correlation between the protein concentration and viable count of M.bovis at the early stationary phase,which was the best time period to harvest antigen.The protein concentration determination could be an alternative method to quantify antigen contents of M.bovis when preparing inactivated M.bovis vaccine.     

4种抗原定量方法观察牛支原体培养特征

为探索在疫苗研制过程中牛支原体抗原收获时间及抗原定量替代方法,将牛支原体08M株接种于含10%马血清的Thiaucourt's培养基,在110 h内同时监测其颜色变化单位（color change units,CCU）、菌落形成单位（colony forming units,CFU）、菌体蛋白浓度和核酸含量的变化,绘制相应曲线。活菌计数结果（CCU和CFU）显示,牛支原体生长可分为明显的4期,10 h进入对数期,30 h进入稳定期,活菌数最高可达1.0×10⁸ CCU/mL和7.7×10⁷ CFU/mL,75 h进入衰亡期;蛋白浓度从15 h开始迅速增长,至35 h蛋白浓度最高,为72.06 μg/mL,此后维持在58.38~70.65 μg/mL;核酸含量从15 h开始增长,至25 h后Ct值维持在15.32~17.84。结果表明,牛支原体蛋白含量在稳定期初期与活菌数具有良好的相关性。因此,在牛支原体灭活疫苗生产中,稳定期初期是最佳抗原收获时间,可用蛋白浓度法代替活菌计数法进行抗原定量。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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)     

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.     

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.     

牛支原体、巴氏杆菌A型和化脓隐秘杆菌多重PCR快速检测方法的建立

本试验旨在建立一种可同时鉴别牛支原体、巴氏杆菌A型和化脓隐秘杆菌的多重PCR方法。分别针对多杀性巴氏杆菌A型特异的hyac-hvaD基因区段、化脓隐秘杆菌的16SrRNA基因上保守区段和牛支原体的UvrC基因设计特异性引物,多重PCR的最佳扩增条件确定为：95℃ 10min预变性;95℃ 1min,56℃ 50s,72℃ 1min,循环30次;72℃ 210min延伸。结果表明,该多重PCR方法可同时扩增出以上三种致病菌的特异性片段,不能扩增出其他病原菌的相关片段;对多杀性巴氏杆菌A型、化脓隐秘杆菌和牛支原体的最低检测浓度分别为8×10^5CFU／mL、8×10^5CFU／mL和4×10^6CFU／mL。同时用该方法检测了牛支原体肺炎患牛的鼻拭子与肺组织,发现12h预增菌后,肺组织检测与牛支原体培养的阳性符合率为92％。对临床样本进行牛支原体分离培养需要3-4d时间,而采用多重PCR方法检测12h预增菌则能在24h内出结果。该多重PCR方法显著加快了临床诊断速度,具有推广应用价值。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Protection against bovine tuberculosis induced by oral vaccination of cattle with Mycobacterium bovis BCG is not enhanced by co-administration of mycobacterial protein vaccines

Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) delivered to calves by the oral route in a formulated lipid matrix has been previously shown to induce protection against bovine tuberculosis. A study was conducted in cattle to determine if a combination of a low dose of oral BCG and a protein vaccine could induce protective immunity to tuberculosis while not sensitising animals to tuberculin. Groups of calves (10 per group) were vaccinated by administering 2 × 10(7)colony forming units (CFU) of BCG orally or a combination of 2 × 10(7)CFU oral BCG and a protein vaccine comprised of M. bovis culture filtrate proteins (CFP) formulated with the adjuvants Chitin and Gel 01 and delivered by the intranasal route, or CFP formulated with Emulsigen and the TLR2 agonist Pam(3)CSK(4) and administered by the subcutaneous (s.c.) route. Two further groups were vaccinated with the CFP/Chitin/Gel 01 or CFP/Emulsigen/Pam(3)CSK(4) vaccines alone. Positive control groups were given 10(8)CFU oral BCG or 10(6)CFU s.c. BCG while a negative control group was non-vaccinated. All animals were challenged with M. bovis 15 weeks after vaccination and euthanized and necropsied at 16 weeks following challenge. Groups of cattle vaccinated with s.c. BCG, 10(8)CFU or 2 × 10(7)CFU oral BCG showed significant reductions in seven, three and four pathological or microbiological disease parameters, respectively, compared to the results for the non-vaccinated group. There was no evidence of protection in calves vaccinated with the combination of oral BCG and CFP/Emulsigen/Pam(3)CSK(4) or oral BCG and CFP/Chitin/Gel 01 or vaccinated with the protein vaccines alone. Positive responses in the comparative cervical skin test at 12 weeks after vaccination were only observed in animals vaccinated with s.c. BCG, 10(8)CFU oral BCG or a combination of 2 × 10(7)CFU oral BCG and CFP/Chitin/Gel 01. In conclusion, co-administration of a protein vaccine, administered by either systemic or mucosal routes with oral BCG did not enhance the protection conferred by administration of oral BCG alone.     

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.     

Attachment of Moraxella bovis to calf corneal cells and inhibition by antiserum

An in vitro assay was developed using calf corneal cells to assess the importance of fimbriae in the colonisation of the bovine ocular surface by Moraxella bovis, and the role of fimbrial antibodies in the bovine immune response and resistance to infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). Fimbriae promoted adherence of M. bovis to calf corneal cells in culture; 15 fimbriate isolates, representative of 6 fimbrial serogroups of M. bovis, adhered to the cells whereas 4 non-fimbriate isolates failed to do so. Fimbrial antibodies in hyperimmune rabbit serum inhibited attachment of all fimbriate strains of the homologous fimbrial serogroup but not those of 5 heterologous serogroups. The relevance of these results to the use of a polyvalent fimbrial vaccine in the control of IBK is discussed.     

2018年天津市原料奶细菌总数、体细胞数及奶牛乳房炎病原菌、耐药基因调研报告

本研究旨在调查天津市原料奶细菌总数、体细胞数及乳房炎病原菌、耐药基因,了解全市原料奶的质量状况及引起奶牛乳房炎发生的主要原因。采集天津市5家乳品加工企业奶罐车的原料奶样品,用于检测体细胞数和菌落总数;采集天津市奶牛养殖场储奶罐奶样品,用于检测体细胞数;采集奶牛场临床型乳房炎发病乳区的牛奶样品,用于检测乳房炎病原菌及耐药基因。结果显示:2018年天津市乳品加工企业原料奶体细胞数平均值为44.65万/mL,标准差42.41万/mL,变异系数94.97%,最大值为225.50万/mL,最小值为1.20万/mL,SCC≤50万/mL的样品占74.37%,50万/mL200万/mL的样品占3.13%;细菌总数平均值11.54万CFU/mL,标准差26.28万CFU/mL,变异系数227.66%,最大值190.00万CFU/mL,最小值0.095万CFU/mL,细菌总数≤10万CFU/mL的样品占74.37%,10万CFU<细菌总数≤50万CFU/mL的样品占21.25%,50万CFU<细菌总数≤100万CFU/mL的样品占1.88%,100万CFU/mL<细菌总数≤200万CFU/mL的样品占2.50%。2018年天津市奶牛养殖场原料奶体细胞数平均值为38.81万/mL,标准差36.49万/mL,变异系数94.03%,最大值为210.00万/mL,最小值为0.80万/mL,SCC≤50万/mL的样品占79.17%,50万/mL200万/mL的样品占0.83%。乳房炎病原菌检测结果显示:36个样品检出病原菌,总检出率为94.74%;共检出8种病原菌,检出率最高的是乳房链球菌,检出率为73.68%,其他病原体检出率依次为:牛支原体34.21%,牛棒状杆菌13.16%,无乳链球菌10.53%,大肠杆菌5.26%,白色念球菌5.26%,停乳链球菌2.63%,铜绿假单胞菌2.63%。14个样品检出耐药基因,总检出率为36.84%;2种耐药基因的检出率分别为β-内酰胺耐药基因CTX-M934.21%,耐甲氧西林葡萄球菌耐药基因MecA 2.63%。研究表明,2018年天津市原料奶SCC及细菌总数大部分接近欧盟标准,但仍有待进一步提高;引起天津地区临床型乳房炎的3种主要致病菌为乳房链球菌、牛支原体和牛棒状杆菌。     

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.     

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)     

Effects of aflatoxin ingestion on the development of Moraxella bovis infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

A study was conducted to determine whether measured doses of aflatoxin given under different schedules would influence the pathogenesis of Moraxella bovis induced infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). Calves were allotted to 4 groups (groups I-IV) of 9, 9, 9, and 8 calves, respectively. Group I calves were given aflatoxin for 11 consecutive days starting 5 days before their eyes were exposed to M. bovis. Group II calves were given aflatoxin for 5 consecutive days starting 7 days after their eyes were exposed to M. bovis. Group III calves were given aflatoxin for 5 consecutive days starting 21 days after their eyes were exposed to M. bovis. Group IV calves were not given aflatoxin; but their eyes were exposed to M. bovis on the same day as were the eyes of calves in groups I-III; these calves served as controls. Aflatoxin had little if any influence on the pathogenesis of IBK under the conditions of this study. The results did not rule out an exacerbating effect of M bovis infection on aflatoxicosis in calves. Calves with the highest concentration of aflatoxin in their blood had the more severe signs of aflatoxicosis. Possible reasons for the equivocal results are discussed.