Eye swelling and pathogen load were greatest 5–10 days after infection, then subsided (eyescore: F=20.84, edf=4.80, P<0.001; pathogen load: χ2=44.86, d.f.=1, P<0.001; Figs 3D, 4B), whereas MG antibodies steadily increased after inoculation (β=0.001±0.001, χ2=18.02, d.f.=1, P<0.001; Fig. 4B). The gene discussed is MGAM; the disease is infection.