| Summary: | The aim of this study was to determine the etiology of naturally occurring infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) outbreak observed in a Tuj
sheep herd rearing semi-intensively and to try fortified treatment options in symptomatic sheeps. Conjunctival samples from 42 sheep
with keratoconjunctivitis were collected aseptically using sterile cotton swabs. All swab were cultivated for bacterial isolation. To test
treatment options symptomatic animals were randomly divided into 3 groups each were composed of adult ewes. The first group (n=13)
was treated with the subconjunctival administration of penicillin G potassium (250.000 IU/animal), the second group (n=14) was treated with
oxytetracycline and polymyxin B sulfate, and the third group (n=15) was treated with amikacin sulfate (diluted with isotonic NaCl to 25 mg
per mL), ceftriaxone disodium and fluconazole (2 mg/mL) combination. As the results of the bacteriological examination, 36 (85.71%) of 42
conjunctival samples were found positive for Moraxella ovis. Also, Mycoplasma conjunctivae was identified in 3 (7.14%) conjunctival samples
positive for M. ovis. After treatment, 84.6% (11/13) of the first group; 71.42% (10/14) of the second group and all animals in the third group
were observed to be healed. This study demonstrated that M. ovis was the primary pathogen causing IKC in Tuj sheeps and M. conjunctivae
was the second rank. The combination of amikacin sulfate, ceftriaxone disodium and fluconazole have been identified as the most effective
treatment option of IKC in sheep.
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