Newton Sparks, [13 Feb 2025 at 1:04:09 PM]: Good day. I have asked the following question on the Production Animal Disease Report group, but would also like the input of the wildlife vets in this regard: What do you think is the role played by blesbok (and other species like wildebeest /hartebeest), in eye infections (Gedoelstia/Moraxella) in cattle /sheep where the species are kept together or in close proximity? Regards Newton Henry Labuschagne, [13 Feb 2025 at 1:26:53 PM]: I have 2 clients that keep cattle with blue wildebeest, and there are no issues with BMCF. I recently had issues with cattle running in the same camp as blesbok that got Gedoelstia. I advise to keep them separately, but this is not always possible. Jacques ODell, [13 Feb 2025 at 8:34:08 PM]: Hi Newton Not sure if I understand your question correctly, but you want to know the role of blesbok and other wildlife in ‘uitpeuloog’ (exophthalmos)? If that is the case here is a short answer. Several species like blesbok and other ‘head bobbing’ antelope are hosts of Gedoelstia hassleri (and other similar flies). They have evolved with the flies over the years and they rarely cause problems. The fly lays her eggs on or near the cornea. The larvae migrate via the optic nerve and other pathways to eventually end up in the nasal cavity. In species (such as cattle, goats, nyala etc.) that have not evolved with the fly, pathology occurs, mostly due to the larvae ‘getting lost’ and not finding their way to the nasal cavity. I always find it fascinating how many of these ‘bots’ live quite happily in a single healthy blesbok. There are many cases where cattle farmers have healthy numbers of blesbok and yet very few cases of ‘uitpeuloog’ in their cattle. Moraxella is a whole other story. Nyala seem to like this one as well. Ulf Tubessing, [13 Feb 2025 at 10:10:18 PM]: Hi Newton. We have seen a number of cases of Gedoelstia in horses on a game ranch that have wildebeest But also blesbok and hartebeest. Poor wildebeest are always the ‘black sheep’ Pierre Nel, [14 Feb 2025 at 5:54:33 AM]: Long ago, I did random eye swabs in healthy springbok and cultured Moraxella from some Newton Sparks, 17 Feb 2025 Thanks for the replies on the blesbok, Gedoelstia/Moraxella question. Appreciated! To be honest Jacques, I read my own question again and I am not so sure I understand it myself 😉. I am just wondering if a lot of the eye infections we see in cattle might be triggered by a Gedoelstia infection to start with. Most cases of eye infection are treated by the farmers and the Gedoelstia larvae might easily be missed.
