Molecular and histopathological detection of lumpy skin disease in Buffaloes, Iraq

Abstract

The study aim is to confirm infection of Iraqi buffaloes with the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) using of molecular conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histopathology. Totally, 150 buffaloes of different ages and sexes at three Iraqi provinces (Wasit, Dhi-Qar and Maysan) were subjected for collection of 5 ml blood samples and for clinical examination for detection of skin lesions and collection of tick samples during 2021 to March 2022. The total positive results for conventional PCR examination of 150 buffaloes was 8 (5.33%) using the blood samples. Among totally 13 suspected LSD skin lesions, only 1 (7.69%) sample was found to be positive. Among 29 tick samples collected from the 29 infested buffaloes, the findings revealed no positive samples in these samples. Histopathological analysis of nodular skin lesion showed that there were edema, hyperemia, acanthosis, severe hydropic degeneration, and hyperkeratosis in the epidermis; whereas in the dermis, there were mononuclear cell infiltration, inclusion bodies, and vasculitis. Conclusion: In Iraq, despite vaccination programs applied since the first outbreak in 2013, LSDV remains large in persistence and distribution among most areas of the country, resulting in apparent morbidities and mortalities.