Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis - Cause

Cause

Moraxella bovis is a Gram-negative rod-shaped aerobe. This bacterium is an obligate intracellular parasite of the mucous membranes and can usually be isolated from the respiratory tract, vagina and conjunctiva of healthy animals. Transmission of IBK is through direct contact with mucous membranes and their secretions and indirect contact where flies act as a mechanical vector. Asymptomatic carrier animals can also be source of infection.