‘Pink eye’ or ‘zere oogjes’ or Keratoconjunctivitis Infectiosa Ovis (KIO)

In a comparative study the clinical efficacy of five different treatments of keratoconjunctivitis infectiosa ovis (KIO) were tested, namely an intramuscular injection of chloramphenicol base (dosage 15 mg/kg), spiramycin base (Suanovil^® dosages 10 to 25 mg/kg), oxytetracycline (Engemycine^® Forte, Terramycin^® LA, dosages respectively 5 and 10 mg/kg), tiamulin (Dynamutulin^®, dosage 10 mg/kg) and subcutaneous injection of procaine penicillin G, benzathine penicillin G, and dihydrostreptomycin in the lower eyelid.

It appeared from these field trials that spiramycin base, oxytetracycline and tiamulin had a clearly positive effect on the clinical course of ‘pink eye’, although with tiamulin there was only a temporary effect (high percentage of relapses).

In view of the field data the following dosage schemes are, for the time being, advised: spiramycin. base (Suanovil^®), and oxytetracycline (formulation with a good biological availability) both 20 to 30 mg/kg and, if necessary, to be repeated on days 5 and 10 after the first intramuscular injection. The dosage scheme advised for tiamulin is 20–30 mg/kg to be repeated on day 3 and if necessary on days 6 and 9 after the intramuscular injection. In mild cases it is sufficient to rub the eyes with for example oxytetracycline eye‐ointment, a few times a day.