An investigation of colonization of the conjunctival sac of sheep by bacteria and mycoplasmas

Abstract

The conjunctival sacs of 100 healthy adult ewes and 20 lambs and 76 adult ewes affected by ovine keratoconjunctivitis (OKC) were examined microbiologically. Branhamella ovis was the only organism regularly isolated from healthy ewes and lambs. Mycoplasma conjunctivae was isolated from the conjunctival sac of nine ewes but its occurrence was not associated with clinical signs of ovine keratoconjunctivitis. Mycoplasma conjunctivae and Branhamella ovis were isolated significantly more often from eyes affected by OKC than from unaffected eyes. © 1994, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.