AN INVESTIGATION OF COLONIZATION OF THE CONJUNCTIVAL SAC OF SHEEP BY BACTERIA AND MYCOPLASMAS

The conjunctival sacs of 100 healthy adult ewes and 20 lambs and 76 ad ult ewes affected by ovine keratoconjunctivitis (OKC) mere examined mi crobiologically. Branhamella ovis was the only organism regularly isol ated from healthy ewes and lambs, Mycoplasma conjunctivae was isolated from the conjunctival sac of nine ewes but its occurrence was not ass ociated with clinical signs of ovine keratoconjunctivitis. Mycoplasma conjunctivae and Branhamella ovis were isolated significantly more oft en from eyes affected by OKC than from unaffected eyes.