The basic reproductive number estimated from a Mycoplasma conjunctivae outbreak in a dairy goat farm

Abstract

Clinicians can evaluate the relevance of an outbreak based on its basic reproductive number (R₀). So far there has been no report on the R₀ of Mycoplasma conjunctivae which is a major cause of goats' conjunctivitis in Taiwan. The present study sought to investigate an outbreak of infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) by Mycoplasma conjunctivae (MC) in an indoor dairy goat barn. The epidemiological curve was recorded to build a susceptible-infected-recovered model and to estimate the R₀ by three methods In the investigated goat barn, 60% (31/55) goats showed degrees of IKC signs. The number of infected animals increased quickly after 15days, but slowed down after 41days. The sick goats began to recover after 30days. The epidemic fully stopped after 81days. The estimated R₀ ranged from 1.35 to 4.46. In summary, this is the first MC report in Taiwan, and the first one to estimate the R₀ of MC.

Keywords: Basic reproductive number (R(0)); Epidemiology; Goat; Infectious keratoconjunctivitis; Mycoplasma conjunctivae.