A cross-sectional study of keratoconjunctivitis among dairy cattle farms subject to Mediterranean climatic conditions

dc.contributor.authorMaartens, Louis Henning
dc.contributor.authorThompson, P.N. (Peter N.)
dc.contributor.authorGrewar, John Duncan
dc.contributor.authorPicard, Jacqueline
dc.contributor.authorGummow, Bruce
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-27T07:30:26Z
dc.date.available2025-06-27T07:30:26Z
dc.date.issued2025-03
dc.descriptionDATA AVAILABILITY : Open Access funding enabled and organized by CAUL and its Member Institutions.
dc.description.abstractThe epidemiology of bovine keratoconjunctivitis (BK) is complex and involves several conjunctival microbiota as well as host and environmental factors. Data about BK in dairy cattle are scarce, and even scarcer for dairy cattle in Mediterranean climates. We determined the BK prevalence among dairy cattle in Southern Africa’s Mediterranean climatic zone by examining 1,675 dairy cattle across 28 herds. Conjunctival swabs were analysed using real-time PCR. Risk factor data were collected by questionnaire and evaluated by multivariable logistic regression. The BK prevalence was 19.4%, (95% CI: 15.0 – 24.8%). Mesomycoplasma bovoculi was demonstrated in 75.7% of the sampled eyes (95% CI: 62.8 – 85.2%) across all farms. Moraxella bovis (18.3%, 95% CI: 11.9 – 27.0%) and Moraxella bovoculi (8.6%, 95% CI: 4.6 – 15.6%) were detected on 89% and 64% of the farms, respectively. Mycoplasmopsis bovis was rarely encountered. Moraxella bovoculi was significantly associated with BK (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3 – 5.6, Wald P: 0.01). Prevalence varied significantly by age and breed. Shade availability (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.4 – 4.4, Wald P < 0.01), sanitation frequency, (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2 – 1.0, Wald P: 0.05), fly burden (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3 – 3.6, Wald P < 0.01) and introduced cattle (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1 – 3.5, Wald P: 0.02) were significantly associated with the prevalence of BK. Closed herds with proper biosecurity, fly control via sound management practices, and access to shade are recommended for preventing BK in dairy herds farmed in a Mediterranean climate.
dc.description.departmentProduction Animal Studies
dc.description.librarianhj2025
dc.description.sdgSDG-02: Zero Hunger
dc.description.sdgSDG-03: Good health and well-being
dc.description.sdgSDG-13: Climate action
dc.description.sponsorshipDeltamune Pty Ltd through funds made available for research and development and via contributions from the University of Pretoria. Open Access funding enabled and organized by CAUL and its Member Institutions.
dc.description.urihttps://link.springer.com/journal/11250
dc.identifier.citationMaartens, L.H., Thompson, P.N., Grewar, J.D. et al. A cross-sectional study of keratoconjunctivitis among dairy cattle farms subject to Mediterranean climatic conditions. Tropical Animal Health and Production 57, 141 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-025-04341-7.
dc.identifier.issn0049-4747 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1573-7438 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1007/s11250-025-04341-7
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/103020
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rights© The Author(s) 2025. Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
dc.subjectKeratoconjunctivitis
dc.subjectDairy cattle
dc.subjectMoraxella
dc.subjectRisk factors
dc.subjectPrevalence
dc.subjectMultivariable logistic regression
dc.subjectBovine keratoconjunctivitis (BK)
dc.titleA cross-sectional study of keratoconjunctivitis among dairy cattle farms subject to Mediterranean climatic conditions
dc.typeArticle

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Maartens_CrossSectional_2025.pdf
Size:
828.71 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Article
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Maartens_CrossSectionalSuppl_2025.pdf
Size:
328.52 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Supplementary Material

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: