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Pinkeye: Understanding the disease and prevention tactics
Detecting the first signs of pinkeye can help reduce the risk of developing permanent eye damage.
April 1, 2020
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Progression of pinkeye
Affecting more than 10 million calves annually, pinkeye is a costly infection for both producers and cattle, putting infected animals at risk of lower growth rate, potential blindness and permanent damage, if left untreated.1
“Early detection of the disease process is one of the greatest challenges,” said DL Step, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim. “The more the disease progresses, the more severe of an impact it can have. In extreme cases, infected cattle may never regain sight.”
When irritants cause damage to the cornea of the bovine eye, pinkeye pathogens (disease causing agents) attack the damaged cornea, resulting in four phases of infection:
Phase 1
Clinical signs of pinkeye begin with discoloration of the cornea and tearing up in an attempt to flush away the irritant. Due to inflammation, discoloration of the eye occurs, making the eye appear gray or slightly cloudy. In the center of the eye, a corneal ulcer will often appear. Further signs include fluttering eyelids, squinting and sensitivity to light.
To avoid the development of irreversible damage to the eye, it’s best to collect diagnostic samples for testing at the first signs of tearing up or irritation.
Phase 2
Existing clinical signs may intensify, making the eye appear cloudier from increased inflammation. The ulcer expands across the cornea, and blood vessels extend to the eye in an attempt to repair the damaged area, which causes redness (the source of the nickname “pinkeye”).
Phase 3
The ulcer begins to cover most of the cornea, as inflammation spreads to the inner part of the eye. The interior of the eye begins to fill with a pus-like substance.
Phase 4
With potential to cause damage to the iris, persistent swelling of the eye and glaucoma, the ulcer extends through the entirety of the cornea. The eye will be at least partially blind, and full blindness could occur if the eye ruptures.
Prevention