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.
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.
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.
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.
