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Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]2021; 52(3); 1643-1648; doi: 10.1007/s42770-021-00507-1

Isolation of Moraxella spp. from horses with conjunctivitis in Southern Brazil.

Abstract: Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) is the most frequent ocular disease in livestock worldwide and is primarily caused by Moraxella bovis, M. ovis, and/or M. bovoculi. The economic impact of IKC is mainly due to ocular damage, which leads to weight loss, management difficulties, pain and discomfort, and cost of treatments. In horses, limited information is available on the association of Moraxella spp. with keratoconjunctivitis. The present report describes two cases of equine keratoconjunctivitis caused by members of the genus Moraxella. Both animals presented with lacrimation, conjunctivitis, photophobia, mucoid or purulent secretions, blepharitis, and conjunctival hyperemia. The diagnosis of IKC was based on the epidemiological and clinical findings; the etiological agent was identified through bacteriological (culture and biochemistry assays) and molecular testing (PCR and nucleotide sequencing). Our study reports the isolation of Moraxella bovoculi (SBP 88/19) and a putative new species/mutant of Moraxella (SBP 39/19) recovered from ocular secretions in horses. Thus, we suggest the inclusion of Moraxella spp. infection in the differential diagnosis of conjunctivitis in horses in Southern Brazil.
© 2021. Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.
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Publication Date: 2021-04-30 PubMed ID: 33931826PubMed Central: PMC8324631DOI: 10.1007/s42770-021-00507-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research identified a bacteria known as Moraxella as the cause of keratoconjunctivitis (conjunctivitis) in horses in Southern Brazil. In addition to the already known Moraxella bovoculi, researchers discovered a potentially new species of the bacteria.

Study Purpose

  • The primary aim of this study was to investigate the role of Moraxella species in causing infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) in horses, a common ocular disease in livestock worldwide.
  • The researchers had noticed a lack of information on the association of Moraxella species with horse keratoconjunctivitis, thus they focused their research on that aspect.

Research Methodology

  • The cases investigated in this study included two horses that had presented with symptoms indicative of conjunctivitis. These symptoms included lacrimation, conjunctivitis, photophobia (sensitivity to light), mucoid or purulent secretions, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), and conjunctival hyperemia (excessive blood flow to the conjunctiva).
  • The researchers used a combination of epidemiological and clinical findings to diagnose IKC. They also used bacteriological (culture and biochemistry assays) and molecular (PCR and nucleotide sequencing) testing to identify the etiological agent causing the infection.

Results and Findings

  • The bacteriological and molecular tests revealed the presence of Moraxella bovoculi in one of the horses (SBP 88/19). They also discovered a potentially new species or mutant of Moraxella in another horse (SBP 39/19) from ocular secretions.
  • As a result of their research findings, the authors recommended the inclusion of Moraxella species infection as a differential diagnosis when investigating cases of conjunctivitis in horses, particularly in Southern Brazil where the study was conducted.

Impact and Significance of the Study

  • This study not only adds to the existing body of knowledge on the causes of keratoconjunctivitis in horses but also opens the door to further research on the newly discovered Moraxella species/mutant.
  • The findings could potentially lead to improved diagnosis, better intervention measures, and enhanced management of the condition in horses, reducing the economic impact caused by the disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Seeger MG, Corrêa LFD, Clothier KA, Loy JD, Cargnelutti JF. (2021). Isolation of Moraxella spp. from horses with conjunctivitis in Southern Brazil. Braz J Microbiol, 52(3), 1643-1648. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-021-00507-1

Publication

Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
ISSN: 1678-4405
NlmUniqueID: 101095924
Country: Brazil
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 3
Pages: 1643-1648

Researcher Affiliations

Seeger, M G
  • Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
Corrêa, L F D
  • Serviço de Oftalmologia Veterinária, Hospital Veterinária Universitário (HVU), Departamento de Grandes Animais, Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
Clothier, K A
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 620 W. Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
Loy, J D
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 4040 East Campus Loop N., Lincoln, NE, 68583-0907, USA.
Cargnelutti, J F
  • Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva (DMVP), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil. jucargnelutti@gmail.com.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Horses / microbiology
  • Keratoconjunctivitis, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Moraxella / genetics
  • Moraxella / isolation & purification
  • Moraxellaceae Infections / diagnosis
  • Moraxellaceae Infections / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Styková E, Valocký I, Kačírová J, Fecskeová LK. Microbiological effect of topically applied Weissella cibaria on equine pastern dermatitis. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1493756.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1493756pubmed: 39834920google scholar: lookup
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