Infectious caprine keratoconjuctivitis (ICK) is an excruciating, highly contagious and mutifactorial bacterial disease of sheep and goat having enormous difference in epidemiological and clinicopathological picture (Shahzad et al., 2013). It has been well documented that the pathogenesis of ICK is influenced by the several factors including immune status of the predisposed animal, signalment, virulence of the pathogenic strain involved, environmental factors and secondary infections (Hars and Gauthier 1984; Nicolet 1985). Inflammation of cornea, conjunctiva and finally ulceration are the conspicuous features of this disease. It may cause temporary or permanent blindness in infected animals (Jesse et al., 2013). In small ruminants, the etiological agent of this disease is Mycoplasma and Chlamydophila spp, nonetheless, Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella caprae, Moraxella bovis and Listeria monocytogenes are also incriminated (Kodjo et al., 1995; Laven and Lawrence, 2006). In cattle, the most important causative agent of infectious bovine keratoconjuctivitis is Moraxella bovis (Frisch, 1975). The reported clinical signs associated with ICK are mucopurulent ocular discharge, blepharospasm, swollen eyes, corneal opacity, photophobia and (Browning, 2007). Infrequently, persistent infection of the anterior chamber may leads towards the development of panophthalmitis and consequently shrinking of the ocular globe. Scrutiny of the published data has indicated that no study has been conducted in Pakistan on ICK in Beetal goats. However, one study of ICK in lohi sheep can be traced back in literature (Shahzad et al., 2013). In the present communication, a case report of ICK in a Beetal buck along with treatment regime is put on the record.

Case presentation

A 2 year old Beetal buck weighing about 15 kg was referred to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH), University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan, for the treatment of anorexia, lacrimation and partial blindness from last five days . At VMTH, the patient underwent routine physical, clinical, hemato-biochemical and microbiological examination. The clinical examination revealed elevated rectal temperature (40.4^oC; normal: 38.5–39.7^oC), capillary refill time (>5 seconds; normal: 2-3 second) and skin tenting time (>3 seconds; normal: 1-2), nevertheless, respiration (23 breaths/ min; normal: 14-34 breaths/min) and heart rate (65 beats/ min; normal: 60-80 beats/min) were within normal reference range.

A thorough examination of both eyes revealed mucopurulent discharge, hyperemia and corneal opacity (Plate 1) along with diminishing pupillary reflex and menace response. The administration of acridine dye (Acridine Yellow G^™, Sigma Aldrich^®) in both the eyes showed corneal ulceration (Plate 2). Increased leukocytic count was the only significant hemato-biochemical finding. Corneal scrapings were collected from both eyes using aseptic techniques for microbiological examination results of which were suggestive of M. caprae. Briefly, after collection the sample was shifted to lab in a transfer medium and processed within 24 hours of collection. The samples were inoculated over standard Mycoplasma broth medium enriched with 20% horse serum, 2.5 % yeast extract and 1% glucose. The resulting culture was propagated at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere having 5% carbon dioxide. Diagnosis of ICK was deduced on the basis of pathognomonic clinical signs, hemato-biochemical findings and isolation of Mycoplasma caprae. A combination of flunixine meglumine (Loxin^®; Selmore; 2.2mg/kg BID, IM) and oxytetracycline (Oxy LA^®; Selmore 15mg/kg, SID, IM and Sub. conjuctival) was instituted. Additionally, keeping in view the hydration status of the patient, fluid therapy using Ringer lactate-D (Ringer-D^®; 40ml/kg) was instituted. The buck was admitted at VMTH and received the treatment on daily basis for a period of 5 days and recovered completely after 1 week. The guardian was advised to provide fly free environment and seek the assistance of nearby veterinarian to continue the treatment for next three days if relapse occurs.

Plate 1 Marked corneal opacity in left eye

Plate 2 Corneal ulceration of the eye observed after the administration of acridine dye

Discussion

Shahzad W., Munir R., Rana M.Y., Ahmad R., Khan M.S., Akbar G., Ijaz M., Mehmood F., 2013, Prevalence, molecular diagnosis and treatment of Mycoplasma conjunctivae isolated from infectious keratoconjunctivitis affected Lohi sheep maintained at Livestock Experiment Station, Bahadurnagar, Okara, Pakistan. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 45(3):737-742
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11250-012-0282-2