Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreaks Research Articles

The Economic Impact of Lumpy Skin Disease and Cost-Effectiveness of Vaccination for the Control of Outbreaks in Pakistan

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) may cause major financial damage to farmers. It is a significant barrier to global trade. The Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV) is a member of the Capri poxvirus genus. The LSD significantly reduces milk production, which might drop from 10 percent to 85%. Consumption of milk and meat has decreased by 60percent to 70percent in Karachi (Pakistan) as a result of LSD usage. Cattle of all species and ages are affected, although lactating cows and young cattle are more at risk. Most LSD outbreaks take place in hot, humid environments when most of the flies that contribute as vectors are present. LSD might be transmitted more quickly by animals. While death is typically low (between 0 and 7%), morbidity ranges from 0.75 to 100%. Lesions can be seen in the reproductive, respiratory, and digestive system tissues. Mastitis, pneumonia, infections of the skin, limping, diarrhea, and myiasis are possible secondary consequences of severe LSD. Consuming milk and meat from diseased animals is dependable and safe. It is vital to choose infection control and preventive techniques. One of the main ways that LSD is spread in areas where it is not endemic is through the restricted mobility of infected animals. Another suggestion for disease control is to reduce the number of insects and vectors. Furthermore, the most effective method for disease control may involve vaccination or immunization with the homologous strain of the LSDV. For control measures to be chosen in time for the LSD to be reduced, diagnosis is therefore of utmost importance and should be rapid and accurate, particularly in endemic regions.

Lumpy skin disease an emerging outbreak in cattle and its impact on human life

A viral disease known as lumpy skin disease (LSD) that infects cattle has recently become a danger to the global livestock industry. Capripoxvirus, which causes LSD, can contract through insect bites or through direct contact with infected animals. Cattle with the disease develop nodules on their skin, which reduce their ability to produce milk, cause them to lose weight, and eventually kill them. LSD significantly reduces milk production, which may decrease from 10% to 85%. Milk and meat sales have decreased by 60% to 70% in Karachi (Pakistan), as a result of LSD. Calves of all strains and ages are affected, although lactating cows and young cattle are more at risk. The bulk of LSD outbreaks occurs in hot, humid environments when a large percentage of insects that serve as vectors are active. LSD may be transmitted more quickly by wildlife. Nasal secretions, inappetence, fever, lachrymation with salivation, swollen lymph nodules, body weight loss, and sometimes death are all symptoms of LSD. Farmers and the cattle industry have suffered enormous financial losses because of the increase in LSD. Concerns regarding the disease's effects on human health have also been raised due to its zoonotic potential. Although there is no evidence that LSD may be transmitted to others, the risk still exists, especially for those with compromised immune systems. This article discusses the current knowledge of LSD, its clinical manifestations, transmission, and preventive measures. It also draws attention to the effects of LSD breakouts, including financial, social, and medical fallouts, on people's lives. The paper highlights the necessity of continuing research and surveillance to comprehend the illness better and create efficient controls to stop its spread.

Poxvirus Infections in Dairy Farms and Transhumance Cattle Herds in Nigeria.

Lumpy Skin disease (LSD) is an economically important disease in cattle caused by the LSD virus (LSDV) of the genus Capripoxvirus, while pseudocowpox (PCP) is a widely distributed zoonotic cattle disease caused by the PCP virus (PCPV) of the genus Parapoxvirus. Though both viral pox infections are reportedly present in Nigeria, similarities in their clinical presentation and limited access to laboratories often lead to misdiagnosis in the field. This study investigated suspected LSD outbreaks in organized and transhumance cattle herds in Nigeria in 2020. A total of 42 scab/skin biopsy samples were collected from 16 outbreaks of suspected LSD in five northern States of Nigeria. The samples were analyzed using a high-resolution multiplex melting (HRM) assay to differentiate poxviruses belonging to Orthopoxvirus, Capripoxvirus, and Parapoxvirus genera. LSDV was characterized using four gene segments, namely the RNA polymerase 30 kDa subunit (RPO30), G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the extracellular enveloped virus (EEV) glycoprotein and CaPV homolog of the variola virus B22R. Likewise, the partial B2L gene of PCPV was also analyzed. Nineteen samples (45.2%) were positive according to the HRM assay for LSDV, and five (11.9%) were co-infected with LSDV and PCPV. The multiple sequence alignments of the GPCR, EEV, and B22R showed 100% similarity among the Nigerian LSDV samples, unlike the RPO30 phylogeny, which showed two clusters. Some of the Nigerian LSDVs clustered within LSDV SG II were with commonly circulating LSDV field isolates in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, while the remaining Nigerian LSDVs produced a unique sub-group. The B2L sequences of Nigerian PCPVs were 100% identical and clustered within the PCPV group containing cattle/Reindeer isolates, close to PCPVs from Zambia and Botswana. The results show the diversity of Nigerian LSDV strains. This paper also reports the first documented co-infection of LSDV and PCPV in Nigeria.

The first study on the impact of lumpy skin disease outbreaks on monthly milk production on dairy farms in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) have resulted in substantial economic losses to the dairy industry in Thailand. This study aimed to determine the influence of LSD outbreaks on monthly milk production levels. Milk production for dairy farms located in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand, belonging to the Khon Kaen Dairy Cooperative, was affected by LSD outbreaks from May to August of 2021. The resulting data were analyzed using general linear mixed models. It was estimated that the LSD outbreak caused economic losses totaling 2,413,000 Thai Baht (68,943 USD) over the outbreak period. The monthly farm milk production level in May differed from the levels in June and August. Dairy farmers experienced losses between 8.23 and 9.96 tons of milk each month, which equated to between 4180 and 14,440 Thai Baht (119.43 and 412.57 USD) in monthly income. This study demonstrated that LSD outbreaks on dairy farms resulted in significant farm milk production losses. Our findings will increase awareness among authorities and stakeholders in the dairy industry of Thailand, as well as to assist in the prevention of future LSD outbreaks and minimize the negative impacts of LSD.

Modelling epidemic growth models for lumpy skin disease cases in Thailand using nationwide outbreak data, 2021-2022.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a transboundary disease affecting cattle and has a detrimental effect on the cattle industries in numerous countries in Africa, Europe and Asia. In 2021, LSD outbreaks have been reported in almost all of Thailand's provinces. Indeed, fitting LSD occurrences using mathematical models provide important knowledge in the realm of animal disease modeling. Thus, the objective of this study is to fit the pattern of daily new LSD cases and daily cumulative LSD cases in Thailand using mathematical models. The first- and second-order models in the forms of Lorentzian, Gaussian and Pearson-type VII models are used to fit daily new LSD cases whereas Richard's growth, Boltzmann sigmoidal and Power-law growth models are utilized to fit the curve of cumulative LSD cases. Based on the root-mean-squared error (RMSE) and Akaike information criterion (AIC), results showed that both first and second orders of Pearson-type VII models and Richard's growth model (RGM) were fit to the data better than other models used in the present study. The obtained models and their parameters can be utilized to describe the LSD outbreak in Thailand. For disease preparedness purposes, we can use the first order of the Pearson-type VII model to estimate the time of maximum infected cases occurring when the growth rate of infected cases starts to slow down. Furthermore, the period when the growth rate changes at a slower rate, known as the inflection time, obtained from RGM allows us to anticipate when the pandemic has peaked and the situation has stabilized. This is the first study that utilizes mathematical methods to fit the LSD epidemics in Thailand. This study offers decision-makers and authorities with valuable information for establishing an effective disease control strategy.

Outbreak of Lumpy skin disease in India 2022- an emerging threat to livestock & livelihoods

An ongoing outbreak of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) has affected many states in India since May 2022. The disease originated in Zambia in 1929. The disease first appeared in South Asia in July 2019, with Bangladesh reporting an outbreak. India reported its first ever Lumpy skin disease outbreak in August 2019. LSD is a contagious epizootic disease caused by the Capri pox virus, which spreads among cattle. The major mode of transmission is vector-borne. There is no specific treatment for LSD. The current preventive measure include vaccination, movement control of bovine animals and quarantining, implementing biosecurity through vector control. There is no evidence that it can affect humans. The current outbreak in India has a wide range of morbidity rates, and higher range of mortality rates among cattle, comparing to the previous outbreak. The outbreak has resulted in huge economic implications for dairy farmers, which is exacerbated by the spread of misinformation through social media.

Lumpy Skin Disease: An Emerging Threat to Livestock in Tehsil Bara, Pakistan

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly contagious and significant economic disease of cattle caused by a virus belonging to the family Poxviridae and genus Capripoxvirus. The present study aimed to determine the severity of the lumpy skin disease outbreak and associated losses in tehsil Bara, Pakistan. The data was collected through a questionnaire from farmers who have cows in their homes; the reported data varied in five different areas of tehsil Bara, collected from June 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022. The total number of reported cases from five selected areas were 2021, of which 168 were healthy and 1853 were infected. Out of the total infected 766 were recovered and 922 were in the recovery stage. Out of five selected areas, the disease’s highest infection followed by the highest mortality rate and lowest recovery cases were 466 (96.28 %), 59 (12.66 %), and 173 (37.12 %) respectively, recorded from Shlobar Quam. The lowest mortality rate was 8 (4.65 %) recorded from Nala Sourdandh and the highest recovery rate was 113 (53.30 %) recorded from Bar Qambar Khel. The disease is characterized by widespread nodules on the skin and causes decreased milk production and lack of appetite, and animals show pharyngeal and nasal secretions, accompanied by secondary infection. It is transmitted by the transportation of illegally bought and sold animals across borders to a new area and spread by insect vectors, including biting flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. Antibiotics, antihistamines, analgesicantipyretics, immunity boosters, and the management of wounds are the general lines of treatment. The current study recommends the multi-task role of government, and the private sector, as well as the isolation of infected animals, burial of dead bodies, annual vaccination, and the prevention of illegal transportation across the border.

Insights into the Prognostic Role of Serum Interleukin-6 and Hematobiochemical Alterations in Cattle during Recent Outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease in Lodhran District, Pakistan.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly infectious disease of cattle caused by a virus of the Poxviridae family, genus Capripoxvirus. The present study was designed to determine the prognostic ability of serum IL-6 in LSD using a binary logistic regression model at baseline sampling. A 17-day cohort study was conducted on a recent outbreak of LSD among cattle in the Lodhran District of Punjab, Pakistan. Infected cattle were divided into two categories based on their clinical status on day 17 as recovered (n = 33) or unrecovered (n = 17). Nodular lesions and scab specimens (n = 50) were used for the isolation of the lumpy skin disease virus and were confirmed by PCR. In recovered animals, hematological results showed marked leukocytosis, eosinophilia, lymphocytosis, neutrophilia, and monocytopenia. However, marked erythrocytosis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia were observed in the unrecovered animals at the final sampling point of the study. Serum levels of total protein, albumin, and glucose were significantly higher in the recovered animals. Meanwhile, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine phosphokinase, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin were found considerably higher in the unrecovered group. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis for serum IL-6 at baseline predicts the extended clinical conditions at the cut-off value of 85.16 pg/mL (55% specificity, 94% sensitivity, area under the curve 0.8039, respectively). In conclusion, the disease-induced hematological and biochemical alterations were significantly ameliorated in the recovered animals. In addition, the study revealed that serum IL-6 can be used as a valid marker for predicting the clinical worsening of LSD in cattle.

Clinical, Hematological, and Biochemical Alterations Associated With Early and Late Infection of Lumpy Skin Disease in Cattle in Egypt

This study aimed to investigate clinical, hematological, and biochemical alterations associated with early (during the first week.) and late (after one month) of lumpy skin disease (LSD) infection in cattle infected during an outbreak of LSD in Egypt. Animals which were clinically examined directly after the clinical onset of LSD showed, firm elevated skin nodules that were distributed all over the body, fever (more than 40℃) associated with anorexia, general weakness, reduced milk yield, enlargement of superficial lymph nodes, and edema in the brisket and/or limbs. Examination of the affected animals one month after the disease onset revealed marked weight loss, shrunk of skin nodules and formation of sit fast. There were significant increases in body temperature, pulse and respiratory rate in all animals infected with LSD with significant decrease of ruminal movement compared to control group. DNA extracted from skin samples collected from LSD infected animals showed bands at the expected size (172 base pairs) by partial amplification of viral attachment protein using PCR. Reduced RBCS count, Hb content, HCT, and MCHC values with a significant increase in MCV in all LSD infected cows compared to the control group, while leukogram analysis revealed leucopenia and lymphopenia during the 1st week. Post-infection, however, one month post-infection revealed granulocytic leukocytosis. In addition, all LSD infected cows showed inflammatory thrombocytopenia. Animals during early LSD infection showed significant reduction in total protein, albumin, glucose and TAC and significant increase in ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, CPK, C-troponin-1, total and direct bilirubin, creatinine, K and MDA levels compared to the control group. While animals during late infection showed significant decrease in glucose, ALT, AST, LDH, CPK, C-troponin-1, direct bilirubin, K and MDA levels and significant increase in total protein, albumin and TAC compared to the early infection group. It can be concluded that, LSD infection in cattle revealed critical alterations in some hematological and serum biochemical parameters during both early and late stages of infection with negative impact on different organ functions including skin, muscle, liver, kidney and heart.

Demographic factors influencing Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) prevalence at Barishal district in Bangladesh: A retrospective study

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), a contagious viral disease, had been a matter of great concern for Bangladesh as the outbreak of LSD occurred in the mid of 2019. Later the disease began to show symptoms like significant production loss, infertility, aberrant pregnancies and abortions, and even fatalities. So, a retrospective study was carried out to investigate the prevalence rate and associated risk factors of LSD in cattle at Barishal district, Bangladesh. The study was performed at Upazilla Veterinary Hospital, Babuganj, Barishal from January 2021 to June 2022. Among 2047 clinical cases reported at the hospitals, 44 cases were found as LSD positive. The prevalence rate of LSD in the aforementioned territory was 2.15%. The highest prevalence was estimated in June 2022 (13.39%) followed by May 2022 (7.32%), August 2021(4.35%), February 2021(4.00%), April 2022 (2.23%), March 2021 (1.69%), February 2022 (1.53%), March 2022(0.76%), September 2021 (0.75%). In the contrast, no LSD case was detected in Jan 2021, May 2021, Jun 2021, Oct 2021, Nov 2021, Dec 2021, and Jan 2022. Breed [χ2 (1, N=2047) =4.989, p<.05] and sex [χ2 (1, N=2047) =4.695, p<.05] of the animals were identified as significant demographic factors for LSDV infections in this locality. Additionally, indigenous breeds [(2.63%), 95%CI: 2.454 (1.088-5.534)], females [(2.76%), 95%CI: 0.484 (0.248-0.946)] and older cattle (>5 years) (3.48%) had a greater prevalence rate than the crossbreeds, males and younger cattle respectively. As LSD has recently become more prevalent, restriction of animal movements, control of vectors, proper vaccination and treatments, routine-wise animal screening, immediate isolation and quarantine of the affected animals are some of the strategies that are strongly recommended and might be followed for reducing the LSD occurrence and spreading in this area.

Lumpy skin disease as an emerging infectious disease.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is one of the most important emerging transboundary diseases. Recently, LSD has emerged in many countries in the northern hemisphere. The LSD virus has a huge genome and is highly resistant to environmental conditions. The virus is also host-specific and large ruminants, such as cattle and domestic water buffalo, are particularly susceptible. In addition, wild ruminants can serve as potential reservoirs for spreading the LSD virus. The emergence might be related to climate change in various regions because LSD is an arthropod-borne infectious disease. This disease causes enormous economic losses, such as leather damage, decreased milk production, abortion, and death in infected ruminants. The economic importance of LSD in the bovine industry has forced countries to develop and implement control strategies against the disease. With the recent global spread and the economic impact, LSD will be discussed intensively. In addition, effective preventive measures are suggested based on the presence or absence of LSD outbreaks.

Epidemiological findings of Lumpy skin disease outbreak investigations carried out in Cattle Colony Karachi, Pakistan

The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological findings of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreak in Cattle Colony Karachi. In total nine LSD affected farms were visited. Blood (n=7), skin scabs (n=2) and nasal swabs (n=6) were collected from LSD suspected cattle and data was obtained on pre-designed proforma. The samples were analysed for LSD using PCR. The most commonly observed clinical signs were nodules on the skin, fever, lachrymation, nasal discharge and reduction in milk production. The clinical signs of LSD were only observed in cattle in affected farms. The overall morbidity and mortality rates were 15.3% and 6.8% respectively. Of 15 samples collected from suspected LSD cases two (13.3%) were found positive for LSD using PCR. This is the first study describing epidemiological features of LSD outbreak in Cattle Colony Karachi, Pakistan. This study provides baseline information for further epidemiological studies and establishment of LSD control strategy in Pakistan.

Lumpy skin disease: A newly emerging disease in Southeast Asia.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is caused by LSD virus (LSDV). This virus has been classified in the genus Capripoxvirus, family Poxviridae which generally affects large ruminants, especially cattle and domestic water buffalo. The first outbreak of LSD was found in 1929 in Zambia, then spreading throughout Africa and with an ongoing expanding distribution to Asia and Europe. In 2020, LSD was found from Southeast Asia in Vietnam and Myanmar before reaching Thailand and Laos in 2021. Therefore, LSD is a newly emerging disease that occurs in Southeast Asia and needs more research about pathology, transmission, diagnosis, distribution, prevention, and control. The results from this review show the nature of LSD, distribution, and epidemic maps which are helpful for further information on the control and prevention of LSD.

Clinical Epidemiology, Pathology, and Molecular Investigation of Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreaks in Bangladesh during 2020-2021 Indicate the Re-Emergence of an Old African Strain.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) emerged in Bangladesh in mid-2019, leading to great economic losses for cattle farmers. This study describes the recent occurrence of the LSDV in Bangladesh and examines the clinical manifestation of the disease in local cattle breeds, characteristic epidemiological features, and pathological findings in affected animals. In addition, a full-genome sequencing of two local LSDV isolates was carried out. A total of 565 animals from 88 households were investigated, and 165 samples (skin lesions, saliva, nasal discharge, feces, and milk) were collected for virus detection. Pathology and immunohistochemistry were performed on nodule biopsies. Fever, nodular skin lesions, and swelling of the joints were the most common clinical manifestations. Skin lesions had a higher concentration of viral DNA compared to other sample types and were therefore selected for virus isolation and characterization. Pathology of the LSD skin nodules comprised a granulomatous reaction in the dermis and hypodermis that extended to the surrounding tissues. Development of the skin lesions started with swelling of keratinocytes with cytoplasmic vacuolation, vasculitis, panniculitis, thrombosis, and infarction. Altogether, the LSDV produced transmural, hemorrhagic, necrotizing, proliferative and ulcerative dermatitis. The LSD viral antigen was detected occasionally in the macrophages, epithelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells. The complete genome sequence analysis revealed that the two Bangladeshi field strains (BD-V392.1 and BD-V395.1) were distinct from the contemporary field strains and were closely related to the ancestral African Neethling strain. The findings of this study will improve the diagnosis, monitoring, and control of LSD in Bangladesh.

Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreaks in Africa, Europe, and Asia (2005-2022): Multiple Change Point Analysis and Time Series Forecast.

LSD is an important transboundary disease affecting the cattle industry worldwide. The objectives of this study were to determine trends and significant change points, and to forecast the number of LSD outbreak reports in Africa, Europe, and Asia. LSD outbreak report data (January 2005 to January 2022) from the World Organization for Animal Health were analyzed. We determined statistically significant change points in the data using binary segmentation, and forecast the number of LSD reports using auto-regressive moving average (ARIMA) and neural network auto-regressive (NNAR) models. Four significant change points were identified for each continent. The year between the third and fourth change points (2016–2019) in the African data was the period with the highest mean of number of LSD reports. All change points of LSD outbreaks in Europe corresponded with massive outbreaks during 2015–2017. Asia had the highest number of LSD reports in 2019 after the third detected change point in 2018. For the next three years (2022–2024), both ARIMA and NNAR forecast a rise in the number of LSD reports in Africa and a steady number in Europe. However, ARIMA predicts a stable number of outbreaks in Asia, whereas NNAR predicts an increase in 2023–2024. This study provides information that contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of LSD.

Epidemiology and economic impact of lumpy skin disease of cattle in Mymensingh and Gaibandha districts of Bangladesh.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging viral disease of cattle that negatively impacts livestock by reducing animals' production and increasing management costs. Like other countries, Bangladesh has also faced the ominous effects of LSD. Because of this pressing concern, the present study was undertaken to determine the attack rate and risk factors along with economic losses of the recent LSD outbreaks from October 2019 to June 2020 in Bangladesh's Mymensingh and Gaibandha districts. A total of 1187 cattle from 150 randomly selected cattle farms were surveyed. The diagnosis was made both clinically and molecularly. The overall attack rate, mortality and case fatality were 34%, 1.10% and 3.23%, respectively, but in calves up to 1 month of age, the attack rate, mortality and case-fatality were 41.6%, 12.5% and 30%, respectively. In risk factor analysis using multiple logistic regression, the following factors were significantly (p < .05) associated with LSD occurrence: no administration of goat pox vaccine, frequency of goat pox vaccination - single dose, introduction of new cattle, land type (low land and medium-high land), use of common syringe and needle, and use of common utensils. The average economic loss per case was 9384.41 BDT (110.40 US $). The higher economic loss per case was accounted in Mymensingh district (10248.91 BDT ≈ 120.58 US $) than Gaibandha district (8211.52 BDT ≈ 96.61 US $). The loss was higher in crossbred cattle (9709.58 BDT ≈ 114.23 US $) compared to indigenous cattle (7595.94 BDT ≈ 89.36 US $). The total estimated annual loss due to LSD in Mymensingh and Gaibandha districts was 7763.25 million BDT (91.33 million US $). In Gaibandha district, the estimated annual loss was 2666.20 million BDT (31.37 million US $) while in Mymensingh district it was 5097.05 million BDT (59.97 million US $). Findings of the study could provide useful epidemiological data with losses incurred due to LSD to the livestock owners, field veterinarians and government-level livestock regulators, which will help to formulate prevention and control strategies and minimize the negative impact of LSD's probable return or spread.

Epidemiological investigation of lumpy skin disease outbreaks in Bangladeshi cattle during 2019-2020.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an acute infectious viral disease of cattle with a wide distribution that emerged in Bangladesh in 2019, causing huge economic losses. This study was undertaken to investigate the epidemiological features of LSD emergence in nine districts of Bangladesh between December 2019 and December 2020. A total of 8215 cattle from 603 herds were investigated and LSD was diagnosed based on the characteristic clinical findings. A standard questionnaire was administered to collect herd-level data including location, herd size, number of LSD-infected cattle, number died due to LSD, farm type, season, house type, vector presence, sanitation and fly repellent use. Similarly, data on clinical signs, sex, age, animal class and breed of the LSD-infected cattle were also recorded. The herd-level attack risk (%) and mortality risk (%) were calculated based on the number of infected and dead cattle, respectively, as a proportion of total cattle. The herd-level risk factors for LSD were identified using a multivariable Poisson regression model. The most common clinical signs were skin nodules (100%), fever (97.9%) and depression with anorexia and weight loss (97.9%). Crossbred (84.9%) and female (72.2%) cattle were mostly affected by LSD. The overall LSD attack risk, mortality risk and case fatality were 26.5%, 0.26% and 0.97%, respectively. The LSD attack risk was significantly higher in small herds (risk ratio: [RR] 1.39; 95% CI: 1.27; 1.53) than large herds. In addition, significantly higher LSD attack risk was observed in semi-intensive management systems (RR=1.29; 95% CI: 1.01; 1.64) than intensive management systems. Moreover, it was also significantly higher in hut (RR=1.81; 95% CI: 1.12; 2.92), temporary (RR=1.62; 95% CI: 1.21; 2.17) and tin-shed houses (RR=1.29; 95% CI: 1.11; 1.51) than in semi-building houses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed epidemiological study of LSD emergence in South Asia. Female crossbred cattle in small herds under semi-intensive management should be prioritized for LSD surveillance and vaccination to prevent further outbreaks and control the impact of the disease in Bangladesh.

Spatio-temporal patterns of lumpy skin disease outbreaks in dairy farms in northeastern Thailand.

In 2021–2022, there were numerous outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) affecting cattle farms across Thailand. This circumstance was the country's first encounter with an LSD outbreak. Thus, a better understanding of LSD epidemiology is necessary. The aim of this study was to determine the spatio-temporal patterns of the LSD outbreaks in dairy farming areas. Data from LSD outbreak investigations collected from dairy farms in Khon Kean province, northeastern Thailand, were analyzed using spatio-temporal models including space-time permutation, Poisson, and Bernoulli models. LSD outbreaks were found in 133 out of 152 dairy farms from May to July, 2021. The majority of dairy farms (n = 102) were affected by the LSD outbreaks in June. The overall herd attack, morbidity and mortality rates were 87, 31, and 0.9%, respectively. According to the results of all models, the most likely clusters were found in the northern part of the study area. The space-time permutation and Poisson model identified 15 and 6 spatio-temporal outbreak clusters, respectively, while the Bernoulli model detected only one cluster. The most likely clusters from those models cover radii of 1.59, 4.51, and 4.44 km, respectively. All farms included in the cluster identified by the space-time permutation model were also included in the cluster identified by the Poisson model, implying that both models detected the same outbreak area. Furthermore, the study results suggested that farmers who own farms within a one km radius of the LSD outbreak farm should be advised to implement more stringent insect vector control measures to prevent disease spread. This study provides better insights into the spatio-temporal pattern of clusters of LSD in the outbreak area. The findings of this study can support authorities in formulating strategies to prevent and control future outbreaks as well as prioritizing resource allocation to high-risk areas.

Molecular characterization of a novel subgenotype of lumpy skin disease virus strain isolated in Inner Mongolia of China

BackgroundThe outbreak of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle caused by LSD virus (LSDV) was first reported in August 2019 in China. Since then, several LSD outbreaks have been reported in seven different provinces of China. Until now, several Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) strains from China have been reported and sequenced including LSDV/Xinjiang/2019 (MN598005.1), China/GD01/2020 (MW355944.1), and LSDV/Hongkong/2021 (MW732649.1). In October 2020, more than 1,700 cattle imported from Chile arrived in Xilingol, Inner Mongolia, and were diagnosed with LSD. Currently, limited data on the origin of the virus is available.MethodsNucleotide sequences of the ORF11, ORF36, ORF74, ORF117, ORF126 genes and the complete genome of LSDV strains and isolates were downloaded from NCBI database. MEGA7.0 was used to perform phylogenetic analysis with Neighbor-Joining (NJ). DNASTAR software is used to analyze homologous comparison analysis with related genes of reference strains included in Genbank.ResultsCompared with other strains isolated from China, the results of full genome sequence analysis showed the LSDV/NMG/2020 strain belonged to the recombinant strains. The LSDV/NMG/2020 strain is different from the current LSDV field isolates in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the newly emerged LSDV Russia variants. Based on the identities of P32, RPO30, EEV, GPCR and LSDV117 genes (99.8%, 99%, 99.8%, 99% and 98.7%), the sub-cluster recombinant containing LSDV/NMG/2020 strain is phylogenetically closer to the Russia strain (Saratov/2017).ConclusionsIn this study, we reported a new isolated LSDV strain named LSDV/NMG/2020. The results of genomic characterization and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the LSDV/NMG/2020 isolate was a vaccine-like recombinant strain.

Quantitative real-time PCR detection and analysis of a lumpy skin disease outbreak in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a severe disease of bovine characterized by nodules on the skin, mucous membranes, and profuse nasal discharge which causes severe economic losses. In October 2020, an LSD outbreak case was found in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. A total of 1,206 cattle were sold from the same imported animal quarantine field to 36 farms after the quarantine period finished, and over 30 farmers reported symptoms such as skin scabs found in newly arrived cattle shortly after that. A large-scale LSD outbreak investigation was launched after laboratory diagnosis confirmed LSD. The clinical samples of 1,206 cattle from 36 farms, including 1,206 whole blood, 1,206 oral and nose swabs, and 355 scabs, were collected for the qRT-PCR test. The result showed that 51 whole blood samples (4.23%), 580 swab samples (48.09%), and 350 skin scabs (98.59%) were lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) positive, 33 of 36 farms were affected. This study aims to provide a basis for LSD epidemiological traceability, movement control, and measures for prevention and control.