Lumpy skin disease is a highly contagious disease, caused by Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), a member of Capripoxvirus genus, Chordopoxvirniae subfamily and Poxviridae family in cattle and buffaloes. The virus is having double-stranded DNA genome that replicates in the cytoplasm of the host cell and it can survive for a long duration in environment. LSD was first reported in Zambia, an African country in 1929. Later it appeared in countries outside the African continent. Outside Africa, it was first reported in Israel, a country in Middle-East Asia in 1989. Subsequently, it appeared in other countries in Asia. In India, the disease was first recorded in Odisha state in the month of August, 2019. Soon, the disease has spread across various Indian states. The WOAH (World Organization for Animal Health, formerly OIE) has enlisted LSD as one of the trans-boundary diseases. It is an arthropod vector borne disease. Summer months and start of seasonal rain which coincides with the peak activities of vectors, increase the incidence of the disease dramatically. Notably, disease incidence declines with the arrival of winter season and increases again on the onset of upcoming spring and summer seasons. It has been observed that tick species like Amblyomma spp ., especially Amblyomma hebraeum , Rhipicephalus decoloratus and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus acts as mechanical vectors. In addition, mosquitoes like Culex mirficens and Aedes natrionus; biting flies like Stomoxys calictrans and Biomyia fasciata acts as mechanical vectors for the transmission of disease within animals. Animals sharing feeding and watering troughs may become infected indirectly. Transmission occurs through blood, milk, saliva as well as nasal and lachrymal secretions. Virus can also spread through intrauterine route. From infected dam, the infection can be passed on to calves either through milk or skin abrasions. Transmission may also occur through semen.
A viral disease caused by Lumpy skin disease virus of Capripoxvirus genus and Poxviridae family
Cattle and water buffaloes
LSD is a highly contagious disease. Vector borne transmission is one of possible route of transmission of LSD. The incidence of the disease increases dramatically on the summer months and onset of seasonal rain which coincides with the peak activities of vectors. On arrival of winter season, disease incidence declines which increases again on the onset of upcoming spring and summer seasons. The tick species like Amblyomma spp. and Rhipicephalus spp. act as mechanical vectors for the transmission of disease within animals. In addition, mosquitoes like Culex spp. and Aedes spp. as well as biting flies like Stomoxys spp. and Biomyia spp. act as mechanical vectors. Indirect route of transmission of the virus also occurs through contaminated feeding and watering troughs as well as fomites. Transmission of the virus is reported through nasal and lachrymal secretions as well as through blood, milk and saliva. Transmission may also occur through semen where virus remains alive up to 42 days post infection. Virus can also spread through intrauterine route. The virus may be transmitted to calves either through milk from infected dam or through skin abrasions.
LSD is found more prevalent in cattle compared to buffaloes. It is characterized by nodular skin lesions around the body of the affected animal especially in head, neck, brisket and back regions. LSD often results in abortion in pregnant animals. It also results in drop in milk production in milch animals as well as infertility in bulls. The draught animals are also seen affected with signs of lameness, leading to economic loss to the farmers. During its initial appearance in August 2019 in India, LSD was having low to moderate morbidity and nil to low mortality. However, subsequently, on July 2022 onwards morbidity and mortality were found in large scale in affected population across various Indian states.
Vaccination in regular interval will control the disease
Live attenuated vaccine
Single dose of the vaccine (containing 103.5 TCID50) following manufacture’s instruction.
Note: Deworming is must at least 15 days before vaccination
Hester Biosciences Ltd., Ahmedabad, Gujarat (Goatpox vaccine for vaccination against LSD) Biovet Pvt. Ltd., Kolar, Karnataka (Technology acquired for production of LSD vaccine)
