Epi. 205 - Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. John Angelos, University of California-Davis, and Dr. Dustin Loy, Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center, to discuss infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), commonly referred to as pinkeye. This is a multi-factorial disease that can sometimes be difficult to manage during outbreak situations. 

Our conversation begins as a review of the major pathogens associated with IBK which includes Moraxella bovis and Mycoplasma bovoculi  which are associated with the majority of cases submitted to diagnostic labs. Our guests also review the various risk factors associated with IBK including flies, mechanical trauma and viral infections. There are nine commercially available bacterin products, two conditionally licensed products, and autogenous vaccines to aid in the prevention of IBK in cattle. Our guests review some best practices for incorporating vaccination into herd health protocols as well as other prevention measures veterinarians may recommend to beef and dairy producers such as clipping pastures, fly control, mineral supplementation and managing viral risk factors.

When prevention fails, treatment protocols are important for veterinarians to develop for producers during both individual animal cases and herd outbreaks. Oxytetracycline and tulathromycin are two antimicrobials currently labeled in the U.S. for treatment of IBK in cattle. There are no Veterinary Feed Directive products labeled for IBK treatment, prevention or control and veterinarians should be aware that it is prohibited to write a VFD for an extra-label use of in-feed antimicrobials. 

Veterinarians are an ideal resource to develop prevention and treatment protocols for managing IBK on beef and dairy operations. Continuing to monitor cases and risk factors can aid in managing this important disease.