This photograph depicts a close view of the skin of a bovine ill with what was determined to be lumpy skin disease (LSD), revealing numerous early skin nodules. Caused by a Poxviridae family member, this virus causes the eruption of skin nodules to take place over all regions of the bovine body. (Image : CDC PHIL) 
Biotechnology

The Virus that Killed 100K Cattle in India

Recently you may have heard of the new, deadly disease called the Lumpy skin disease making rounds. It’s already affected thousands of cows in India, killing about 100K animals across the country.

Anwesha Banerjee

So what exactly is this Lumpy skin disease?

Lumpy skin disease or LSD  is a viral infection of cattle, it is caused by a virus called LSDV or lumpy skin disease virus. It belongs to the family of Poxviridae; Genus: Capripoxvirus. This virus is commonly found mostly in African countries, south of 10°N latitude. Traditionally it is found in sub-Saharan west Africa but due to globalization, since the 2000s it has spread to many countries like the middle east, turkey, and other Balkan countries. Some of the reports of this disease came from Georgia, Russia, China, and Bangladesh. The disease has not been seen in the western hemisphere or in Australia and New- Zealand.

The photograph depicts the flank region of a bovine ill with what was determined to be lumpy skin disease (LSD). (IMAGE:CDC PHIL)

Research shows it is a vector-borne disease, communicable easily through direct contact. Its genomic sequence is about 150 Kb and has about 147 to 156 genes. The genes are highly conserved and almost 96%  Identical to the other viruses in the family, like the sheeppox virus and goatpox virus.

The genetic characteristics are: High AT content; Evolved from the same ancestor.

Lumpy skin disease is one of the most important topics nowadays because of its serious consequences in economic situations which present themselves during its spread. It is mostly fatal in cattle with no treatment known to date.

The World Organization for Animal Health has put LSD as a notifiable disease.

Visualization of a virus with its components like surface proteins, anchoring protein, envelope. (IMAGE: UNSPLASH)
The spread of Lumpy Cow Disease and the speed with which it is spreading across the states in India, is a good example to how little we know viral infections and the unavailability of vaccines against these diseases.
Dr Upasana Datta, Advisory Board Member, Department of Research and Development, Uttoran Foundation, West Bengal, India

The virus spreads epidemically. Its appearance is sporadic. The incidence of this disease increases in the wet summers, especially in the type of climate that dominates in India during the monsoon season. The occurrence is low during winter. 

The vectors are airborne like insects, and ticks that spread the virus. Infected saliva can also transmit the disease. The incubation period for the disease to manifest is about 4 to 14 days.

The characteristic nodules are round, slightly raised, and painful. The nodules are firm in nature. It may occur in the GI tract, respiratory and genital tracts. These are creamy-gray or Yellow masses of tissues that get swollen and edema develops as the disease progresses.

Scientist was reviewing a plate with serological test samples. Serological testing is used to detect antibodies, which indicate past infection with the virus. (IMAGE: UNSPLASH)

The disease can be diagnosed by histopathological tests, viral isolation, and titration along with PCR. Although at the moment no constructive treatment is available for this disease, scientists believe that attenuated viral vaccines may help in the containment of the disease. Along with a course of antibiotics, that will help in controlling the secondary infections.

Download the MedBound app & learn new things everyday!

Diwali Celebrations Turn Toxic: 69% of Families in Delhi Affected by Air Pollution

Suni Lee’s Journey of Triumph: Overcoming Kidney Disease and Defying the Odds to Win Olympic Medals

AIOCD Warns Against Swiggy, PharmEasy’s 10-Minute Medicine Delivery Partnership

NMC Defends Removal of Respiratory Medicine from MBBS Curriculum Amid Court Proceedings

Marylanders To Vote on Expansive ‘Right to Reproductive Freedom’