Hematological and microbial analysis on a Holstein heifer with infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) is the most common ocular disease in cattle, manifesting as corneal opacity, corneal ulcerations and potentially vision loss. The present report describes a 10- month-old Holstein Friesian heifer with IBK treated by systemic tulathromycin, and subconjunctival injection of penicillin and dexamethasone. We investigated changes in the hematological indices and microorganisms related to IBK after treatment. Neutrophils and monocytes decreased during recovery, so it was assumed that these two types of white cells are associated with IBK. Moraxella bovoculi was cleared in the eye, nasal cavity, and oral cavity after treatment. The distribution of M. bovoculi before treatment indicated that a combined systemic and subconjunctival treatment was necessary. The lesioned eye was found to be overwhelmed by Mycoplasma bovoculi, while pathogen abundance was reduced in the nasal cavity and oral cavities. These results suggest that antibiotic treatment can alter the composition and relative abundance of microorganisms.