Ovine infectious keratoconjunctivitis caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae

Abstract

In a herd of 200 Spanish sheep, 20% of the animals developed unilateral or bilateral keratoconjunctivitis, affecting young and adult animals. M. agalactiae was isolated from the conjunctival sac of 20 adult sheep and three lambs, After a topical and parenteral treatment using tetracycline and tylosine, all animals gradually recovered, One sheep was sacrificed to carry out a pathological study of the cornea, where mycoplasma were seen ultrastructurally. After 3 months of clinical presentation, M. agalactiae was again isolated from healthy sheep confirming the persistence of this microorganism.