Isolation and Molecular Detection of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus from Outbreak Cases in Illubabor Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Lumpy skin disease is one of the most economically important viral diseases of cattle and Asian water buffalo caused by lumpy skin disease virus, which occurs in most African countries including Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, it has been detected in exotic and local breed cattle. To this end, there is scarcity of information on its epidemic status, among cattle in Illubabor, Ethiopia. Therefore, outbreak investigation was conducted to estimate epidemic status of lumpy skin disease among cattle in illubabor zone, Yayo district. Methodology: Outbreak investigation was done from August to December 2020 in the Ilubabor zone, Yayo district, with the goal of isolating and detecting the virus using molecular methods. All ages and both sexes of local breed cattle from reported disease outbreaks of the study area were subjected to the study. Skin biopsies (n=44) were collected from non-vaccinated lumpy skin disease affected cattle after examining the presence of skin lesions and transported to NAHDIC for laboratory test. Virus was isolated by growing on Vero cells and molecular detection was performed by conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The characteristic capripoxvirus cytopathic effect was observed on 17 out of 44 Vero cells inoculated. Out of the total 44 samples, 88.63% (39/44) and (95.45%) 42/44 were found positive for LSDV by conventional and real time polymerase chain reaction respectively. Chi-square (x²) test was used to assess the association of sex and ages with affected group. Morbidity, mortality and case fatality rates were 15.49%, 1.4% and 9.09% respectively. Adult cattle showed higher morbidity (17.18%) than young ones (11.1%). Also not statistically significant, higher morbidity was observed in female (16.66%) than male (14.11%) cattle. Conclusion: The study showed that lumpy skin disease was circulating in cattle in the area and causing great loss to the farmers with high morbidity rates. To reduce economic losses caused by the disease, it was suggested that strategic programs for effective control and prevention be established.