Moraxella spp

Question 1

Habitat

Answer 1

Skin, mucous membrane and conjunctiva of mammals

Question 2

Characteristics

Answer 2

Nonmotile, fastidious, aerobic
Short,plump, gram-negative, coccobacili

Question 3

Growth condition

Answer 3

33-35 celcius

Question 4

Important pathogenic species

Answer 4

M. ovis - pinkeye in goat/sheep
M. bovis - pinkeye in cattle

Question 5

M. bovis

Effects

Answer 5

Infectious bovine keratoconjuctivitis (IBK) or pinkeye in cattle
Painful and often become blind

Question 6

M. bovis

Transmission

Answer 6

Direct contact and face fly (musca spp)

Question 7

M. bovis

Virulence factor

Answer 7

Q pilus (attachment) and I pilus (local persistence and maintenance of an establishment infection)
Cytotoxin - corneal ulcers (lysis of cornel epithelial cells)

Question 8

M. bovis

Isolaton and identification

Answer 8

Conjunctival swabs
Colonies on blood agar - flat to convex,gray-white and usually have clear zones of complete hemolysis
Catalase +, oxidase +, nitrate reduction+, non-motile

Question 9

Moraxella bovis

Control, prevention & treatment

Answer 9

Control face flies
Proper pasture management
Use insecticide
Vitamin A supplementation (eyes specialized)

Treatment - 2 injection of long acting oxytetracycline given 72 hours