Genetic determination in pathological process development of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

Abstract

In the development of the pathological process that causes infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), the features of the genome that determine the pathogenicity of Moraxella bovis and Moraxella bovoculi play a significant role. The cytotoxin plays a leading role in the development of the infectious process and it may be used as a basis for developing specific immunological prevention measures. The regions of the genome that are responsible for pathogenicity are closely related to antibiotic sensitivity and have a different set of proteins that are responsible for the development of the infectious process. The analysis of the influence of cattle genetic characteristics on resistance to IBK development shows that Hereford cattle are the most vulnerable. The conducted research opens up prospects for exploring the possibility of cattle breeding with the participation of more resistant breeds to this disease. Genetically determined relationship of certain infectious (pododermatitis and infectious respiratory diseases) and parasitic (worm and tick eggs) pathologies and the development and manifestation of infectious keratoconjunctivitis was revealed. The analysis of the genomes of clinical isolates of M. bovis and M. bovoculi isolated in Uruguay enabled to determine the genetic basis of fimbrial synthesis and virulence factors which was observed in 94% coverage with the reference genomes of both species and more than 80% of similarity with them. The research findings indicate the need for further research on the role of these virulence factors in IBK pathogenesis and the possibility of using them as vaccine components. The research findings show the significant role of genetic factors in predisposing cattle to disease as well as the genetic characteristics of the pathogen that determine the production of certain pathogenic factors.