Isolation of Mycoplasma bovoculi from cases of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis.

Five outbreaks of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis were examined for bacteria and mycoplasmas. Mycoplasma bovoculi was demonstrated in four of the five outbreaks. Other mycoplasmatales were represented by Ureaplasma in one sample. Moraxella bovis and Neisseria ovis were found in all the outbreaks, the former being present in the vast majority of the animals. Transmission experiments with Mycoplasma bovoculi and Moraxella bovis in combination were carried out on four young, colostrumdeprived calves. Mycoplasma bovoculi appeared to have an enhancing effect on the pathogenicity of Moraxella bovis.