Archive Case #46: Bovine Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis

Clinical Clues

1. A weaned calf is brought in because one eye is streaming tears and kept tightly shut.
2. Several calves in the mob have shown similar eye irritation during a season with heavy fly pressure.
3. The conjunctiva is reddened and the cornea has a central white opacity.
4. Blepharospasm and photophobia are marked.
5. The lesion is consistent with bacterial corneal disease commonly associated with Moraxella bovis.
6. This contagious condition of cattle typically causes lacrimation, painful eyes, and corneal ulceration.

Diagnosis

Bovine Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis

This case is most consistent with Bovine Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis because the calf has a painful tearing eye with a corneal lesion in a group setting with face flies. The most important clues are the blepharospasm, corneal opacity, and herd pattern, which strongly support pinkeye.

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.