The occurrence of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in sheep in Serbia [Yugoslavia, bacterial diseases]

The occurrence of conjunctivitis, i.e. kerato-conjunctivitis in sheep in SR Serbia (SFRY) had not been noticed for a long time, until sheep from New Zealand were imported in mid 1982. While inspecting the quarantine with the imported sheep, the disease was found in 5-6 animals. The sheep were in advanced pregnancy and some of them brought lambs while in the quarantine and the others when they were transfered to private farms. 100% of the lambs got the disease, as well as domestic sheep. There were a few very hard cases in domestic sheep. In some instances, however, contagiousness and pathogenicity did not show. For instance, in the flocks of the cooperants in Srem, although the New Zealand sheep were joined with the domestic Cigaja ones, the disease was not conveyed to them generally, in these flocks the disease manifested in its weaker form. Attempts to separate the pathogen, or maybe prove it in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells did not give results. There were no conditions for special searching. This is why the kerato-conjunctivitis etiology remained unexplained in this case. Solution of the problem of ethiology of the disease was searched for in the New Zealand professional literature. Survey of the occurrence of the disease was continued. In the period of 2 lambings the progeny got the disease, this being the evidence that the pathogens remain alive long after curing, most probably in the mucous membrane of the conjunctiva. It is concluded that the disease is easily conveyed to uncontaminated flocks and that both young and older heads can catch it. In this case, the primary treatment was with Tetravet spray (New Zealand make), but some other means were used too later. The authors of this paper were observing the effect of Oftalmin (Didrosulfin). This is the combination of dihydrostreptomycin sulphate and sulphasomidine with a notable synergetic effect on the secondary bacterial flora, which complicates the basic process frequently.