Infectious bovine
keratoconjunctivitis is a common and highly contagious ocular disease affecting cattle worldwide. The tremendous economic losses attributable to this disease warrant continued investigation into methods of prevention. Multiple
virulence factors have been linked to the primary aetiologic agent, Moraxella bovis. Efforts to develop an efficacious
vaccine have primarily focused upon the use of surface pili or
cytolysin to stimulate host immunity; however, M. bovis possesses other virulence determinants that include
proteases, fibrinolysins,
phospholipases and other cell surface components such as outer
membrane proteins. These potentially conserved
antigens provide additional possibilities for
vaccine development. Examination of appropriate antigen presentation is necessary to attain an adequate immune response. Further, the potential for antigenic diversity as well as
epitope conversion requires continuous epidemiological surveillance of isolates recovered from outbreaks. Current work targeting conserved immunogens provides hope for efficacious
vaccines that when used in tandem with proper management may control, if not prevent, infectious bovine
keratoconjunctivitis.