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

Abstract

SUMMARYThe conjunctival sacs of 100 healthy adult ewes and 20 lambs and 76 adult ewes affected by ovine keratoconjunctivitis (OKC) were examined microbiologically.Branhamella oviswas the only organism regularly isolated from healthy ewes and lambs.Mycoplasma conjunctivaewas isolated from the conjunctival sac of nine ewes but its occurrence was not associated with clinical signs of ovine keratoconjunctivitis.Mycoplasma conjunctivaeandBranhamella oviswere isolated significantly more often from eyes affected by OKC than from unaffected eyes.