Ovine Keratoconjunctivitis (Pink Eye) in Sheep: Causes, Signs and Control
Mixing of sheep around tupping time often leads to increased reports of keratoconjunctivitis outbreaks in sheep during late autumn/early winter.听This condition can be very frustrating due to its tendency to recur following treatment.鈥疶rauma to the eye caused by听bad weather听such as high winds and snow can predispose to clinical disease. Large numbers of animals can be affected especially when animals are in close contact for example close head-to-head contact between sheep, occurring at feed troughs.听听
What causes it?听听
Infectious听keratoconjuctivitis听(IKC) also known as pink eye is a bacterial infection affecting the eyes.听IKC is commonly caused by听mycoplasma听conjuctivae.听Other bacteria which may contribute to clinical signs include听moraxella听ovis,听staphylococcus aureus听and listeria monocytogenes.听听
What are the clinical signs of infection?听
How is IKC transmitted?听
- Damage to the eye caused by high winds,听snow听or听close contact with听plants such as heather can predispose to disease.听
- Infection is spread most by nose-nose contact.听Indirect spread on hands can also play a role.鈥�听
- Outbreaks may be triggered by mixing, tight听stocking听and close head-to-head contact between sheep, such as occurs at feed troughs, during housing or gathering for handling.听听
- Bought-in 鈥榗arrier鈥� animals are the听likely initial听source of infection.听M.听conjunctivae听can听remain on the eye surface听three to six听months after treatment and resolution of disease.听听
How is IKC diagnosed?听
Get you听veterinary听surgeon to take a look! They听will听most听likely听be听able to make a presumptive diagnosis听after听examining affected sheep.听Ocular swabs can be听taken听for specific PCR test for听M conjunctivae.听Routine cultures can also be performed to look for other bacteria (Moraxella听ovis,听staphylococcus aureus,听listeria monocytogenes).听
Treatment听
Infection can spread rapidly through the flock with outbreaks lasting weeks to months.听It is vital to seek advice from your veterinary surgeon听early听to ensure appropriate听treatment.听听Injectable or topical antibiotics are usually听required,听and,听in some听cases,听painkillers听may also be needed.听To reduce spread within the听flock听wherever听possible affected animals should be segregated for treatment and not returned to the group until they are clinically normal.听Outbreaks can last for a period of weeks to months.听听
5 top tips听听
- Quarantine new and returning sheep to reduce the risk of introducing IKC to the flock.听
- Reduce to a听minimum,听conditions听that make sheep vulnerable to听IKC听and be vigilant听for infection听following periods of听bad weather听e.g. snow/high winds听and when animals are in close contact or mixed e.g. tupping time.听
- Monitor closely for early听clinical听signs of IKC including听redness,听increased tear staining and excessive blinking.听
- Isolate any animals showing signs of IKC and only return them to the flock when symptoms have resolved.听
- Seek advice from your veterinary surgeon听promptly听so听affected animals can be treated effectively.听
Lynn Gibson, 伊人直播 Veterinary Investigation Officer,听Lynn.Gibson@sruc.ac.uk
Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/01/2026
