Do flies cause pinkeye?
No, true IBK is caused by Moraxella bovis. The fly is a common mechanical vector that spreads the disease from animal to animal. The tongue of the face fly looks much like a rasp under a microscope. When flies feed off the lacrimal fluids at the eye, they sometimes scratch the cornea. This initial lesion can reduce the eye’s defenses to disease and allow the infection to begin.
