Lumpy skin disease Virus(LSDV): All you need to know about

 What is a lumpy skin disease?

Lumpy skin disease is a very infectious vector-borne disease caused by the virus, Capripox of poxiviridae family.  The virus is also known as Neethling virus. Cattle and water buffaloes are the most commonly affected by the viral infection.  The first reported case was from Africa. 

The  insects or flies are the vectors of virus and when these blood-feeding insects bite the cattle and water buffaloes, they transmit the virus to them and cause the infection.  

Lumpy skin disease outbreaks are commonly reported in Africa, South east Asia, Middle east and some other parts of the world.  The infection can be fatal and may lead to bulk cattle deaths in the endemic areas. The incidences reported however are mostly sporadic in nature due to the constant movement of the livestock. 

The lumpy skin virus is similar to the sheeppox or goatpox virus and the vaccines for this infection are mostly the ones used to prevent sheeppox or goatpox.  

The disease causes hard skin lumps all over the body in the infected cattle, so it is called a lumpy skin disease. 

What are the common signs and symptoms?

The lumpy skin disease has distinct unique symptoms that can help us identify the disease in the cattle. 

The following are the symptoms of lumpy skin disease in cattle and buffaloes:

1. Fever, high grade fever 
2. Sudden weight loss
3. Appearance of  hard skin circumscribed( round)nodules all over the body.
4. The nodules may form deep within the respiratory and digestive tract
5. Nodules may occur within the nose and mouth causing extreme difficulty 
6. Lower part swelling including the lower legs and genitals. 
7. Swollen, painful superficial lymph nodes 
8. Excessive lacrimation or watering of the eyes
9. Excessive salivation, drooling of the saliva
10. Reduced flesh under the skin, making the nodules appear more clear. 
11. Muscle weakness and unable to stand or walk. Limping gait can be seen
12. Emaciated look of the affected cattle or buffalo
13. Reduced milk production

What are the causes of lumpy skin disease and its spread?

Causative agent

Lumpy skin disease is caused by the lumpy skin disease virus. It is a brick-shaped Capripox virus of the genus Poxiviridae family.  It is the cause of the disease in cattles. 

Vector of the lumpy skin disease virus:

It is caused when the blood-feeding or blood sucking insects such as mosquitoes or some flies or may be ticks bite the cattle and water buffaloes.  The bite of these insects transmits the virus into the blood stream of the cattle and they get affected with the virus producing the symptoms as noted above. 

Spread of the virus:

The spread of virus can occur from one affected animal to animals However the humans are not at much risk of this infection. The transmission to human from animals is rare. It can also result through contact with the contaminated objects or fomites such as use of same infected equipment used for livestock care.  It can rapidly spread infection from one animal to other. 

What are the risk factors of having lumpy skin virus disease?

• Humans are not at risk of getting this viral infection from the cattle. 
• The disease is common in the humid and warm climates where there are more insects. 
• The water bodies may be a breeding place for the mosquitoes, most common after heavy rains or floods.  The water buffaloes may get insect bites when they are in water. 
• The undiagnosed or carrier cattle may increase the risk of spread to other cattle.
• Improper handling or care of the cattle
• Not properly vaccinated livestock are at increase risk of having lumpy skin disease. 
• Weak or less immune cattle are at risk of having lumpy skin disease. 
• The nodules may turn into ulcers following necrosis and degradation and the outer skin may slough out. The infection can spread through this sloughing ulcers.  

How can we diagnose lumpy skin virus infection in our cattle?

The diagnosis can be easily made by examining the symptoms. The characteristic circumscribed skin nodules all over along with other symptoms help in the diagnosis of the lumpy skin disease. 

What are the treatment approaches for lumpy skin disease?

There is no specific treatment for Lumpy skin disease. This may be further prevented in other animals by controlling the spread of the infection. 

What are the complications of Lumpy skin disease in cattle?

The severe cases of this disease may cause:

• Poor appetite and starving that may cause sudden weight loss. The cattle then becomes too weak to survive.
• The skin lesions rapidly infiltrate the circulatory system causing vasculitis and spread the lesions into the heart, liver and other vital organs. 
• Organ damage may be fatal
• Reduction of the hides 
• Reduced milk yield
• Abortion or miscarriage in pregnant cattle. 

What is the prevention for lumpy skin disease?

• Attenuated vaccines for sheeppox and goatpox are given to prevent the infection. 
• Safe handling and hygienic measures while caring for your infected cattle
• Quarantine of the infected cattle
• Proper treatment of the infected cattle by feeding them antibiotics or as per country guidelines to ease the symptoms. 
• Proper disposal of the dead cattle to prevent the spread of infection. 

Lumpy skin disease is a contagious viral disease transmitted to the cattle by bites of the blood-feeding insects. The characteristic symptoms are the growth of the hard skin lumps or nodules on the skin. It separates the skin from the inner dermis and reduces the hide. Lumpy can spread rapidly and it can affect the livestock of the nation drastically. Vaccines can help prevent the infection.

 Note: This post is for informational and educational purpose only, It is not a substitute to any medical or professional advice or treatment. See your doctor in any case.