Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an economically significant viral infection affecting cattle, primarily caused by the capripoxvirus and characterized by fever and skin nodules. Originating in Zambia, LSD has spread across Africa and into the Middle East, resulting in substantial economic losses due to outbreaks. Control measures include vaccination, insect management, and biosecurity practices to mitigate the disease's spread.

1. Viral Diseases
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal
Husbandry
Somali National University
Mogadishu, Gaheyr Campus
OCt. 01. 2022
LUMPY SKIN DISEASE

2. • Lumpy skin disease was first diagnosed in
northern Rhodesia/Zambia in 1929.
• and then spread to Botswana in 1943, South
Africa in 1944, southern Rhodesia/Zimbabwe in
1945, Kenya in 1957, Sudan in 1971, Chad and
Niger in 1973, Nigeria in 1974, and Ethiopia in
1983.
• Lumpy skin disease spread steadily to almost all
sub-Saharan countries by the end of the 1970s and
remained only in this region till 1987.

3. From 1988, the diseases spread to Egypt.
Initially it was difficult to know the etiological
agent of LSD.
LSD was first described by MacDonald in
1931 as “pseudo-urticaria”

4. Lumpy skin disease is an acute disease of
cattle characterized by fever, cutaneous
nodules and generalized lymphadenitis.

5. Etiology:
LSD is caused by a virus in the genus
Capripoxvirus of the family Poxviridae
related to the arthropod-borne pox virus of
sheep and goats.

6. Occurrence:
 The endemic area lies in southern Africa.
 In recent years epidemics have occurred
in East and West Africa.

7. Geographic Distribution and
Economic Impact
• Lumpy skin disease is currently endemic and
widespread in almost all African countries except
for a few northern African countries: Libya,
Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.
• After being confined for almost 60 years in the
sub-Saharan African region and Egypt, the disease
has spread to the Middle East countries such as
Israel, the Palestinian Autonomous Territories,
Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, and the United
Arab Emirates

8. LSD is thought to have originated in Zambia
from where it spread to Zimbabwe,
Mozambique, and South Africa.
In 1957, LSD was first seen in East Africa
in Kenya in the Rift Valley.
epidemics of LSD have occurred irregularly
and have extended to include the whole of
Kenya, and have also been reported from
Uganda, Somalia and Tanzania. The disease
was reported from the Nile basin of southern
Sudan in the early 1970s

9. • A report estimated a total economic loss of around
USD667,785.60 due to LSD outbreaks between
June and December 2011 in feedlot farms in
central Ethiopia.
• also estimated a milk price loss of USD44.70 per
cow during an average of 20 days when an
outbreak occurs on a dairy farm. Although
mortality rate caused by LSD is usually low, the
disease is of major economic importance owing to
costs incurred for veterinary service, cow death,
abortion, and still birth of calves

10. LSD – Distribution
 LSD is generally confined to Africa
 It may also occur in other Middle Eastern countries
(Kuwait)

12. LSD - Species Affected
LSD is primarily a disease of cattle
Bos taurus breeds (Jersey, Guernsey and
Ayrshire) are more susceptible to clinical
disease than zebu cattle (Bos indicus)
Indigenous cattle rarely become sick and
seldom die but exotic cattle react more
severely. A few cases have been reported in
Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

14. In general young calves and lactating cows
appear more susceptible.
Giraffe and impala have been shown
experimentally to be susceptible.
Wild animals are not thought to play an
important role in the spread or
maintenance of LSDV

17. LSD - Transmission
LSDV is thought to be transmitted primarily
by biting insects
This virus has been found in mosquitoes in the
genera Aedes and Culex during some
outbreaks
Flies and other insects might also be involved
in transmission, but this remains unproven
Direct contact could be a minor source of
infection

18. LSD - Transmission
LSDV occurs in cutaneous lesions, saliva,
respiratory secretions, milk and semen
Animals can be infected experimentally by
inoculation with material from cutaneous
nodules or blood, or by ingestion of feed
and water contaminated with saliva

20. LSD - Clinical Signs
CS of LSD range from inapparent to severe (age
and breed)
Fever at the beginning then formation of
nodules on the skin and mucosae (in 2 days)
The size of the nodules vary from 1 cm to 7 cm
and penetrate the full thickness of the skin
Nodules are common on the head, neck, udder,
genitalia, perineum and legs

21. LSD - Clinical Signs
Nodules develop a characteristic inverted
conical zone of necrosis, which penetrates
the skin layers, subcutaneous tissue, and
sometimes the underlying muscle
The cores of necrotic material become
separated from the adjacent skin and are
called sit-fasts
Secondary bacterial infections occur

22. LSD - Clinical Signs
Superficial lymph nodes become enlarged
and edematous
Rhinitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis can
also be seen
Abortions and temporary or permanent
sterility may occur in both bulls and cows
A few animals die but the majority slowly
recover

23. Lumpy skin disease, ulcers from which the "sitfasts" have separated

24. Bovine, skin. There are disseminated cutaneous papules.

25. Bovine, skin. There are disseminated cutaneous papules with
necrotic centers (sitfasts).

26. Bovine, skin. Necrotic centers (sitfasts) of two of these papules
have sloughed.

27. Bovine, skin. Multiple subcutaneous nodules elevate the skin.

28. Bovine, muzzle. There are multiple sharply-demarcated
slightly raised papules, often with eroded surfaces, that extend
into the nares.

29. Pathology:
 The cut surface of the nodules is dull and
pinkish-grey and the subcutis is often
infiltrated by red serous fluid.
 Sit-fasts are usually raised above the level
of the surrounding skin on granulation
tissue.
 Microscopically the nodules are variable in
morphology.

30.  In animals that die nodules are found to
occur in visceral organs, particularly the
lungs and the tissues of the upper
respiratory and digestive tracts, as well as
cutaneously.
 All the lymph nodes are enlarged.

31. Bovine, nasal turbinate. Early pox lesions are slightly pale round foci
rimmed by petechiae.

32. Bovine, nasal turbinate. The centers of well-developed
pox are necrotic.

33. Bovine, trachea. The mucosa contains a poorly demarcated
round focus rimmed by mild hemorrhage (early pox lesion).

34. Bovine, trachea. Two coalescing mucosal macules have hyperemic
margins.

35. Bovine, lung. There is marked generalized interlobular edema,
and there is a small cluster of red nodules on the left side of the
specimen.

36. Diagnosis:
 Typical cases are easily recognized
clinically during epidemics but subacute
cases are often difficult to diagnose.
 Confirmation is best sought by examining
a biopsy sample from an early skin
nodule by electron microscopy.

37. Supportive diagnostic aids include:
 virus isolation in cattle or in cell cultures
and
 histopathology.
An early nodule should be excised and
forwarded to the laboratory; half the
nodule should be immersed in ten per cent
formol-saline and the other half should be
sent frozen.

38. The nodules of the Neethling type of lumpy skin
disease must be differentiated from :
 those of the Allerton type of pseudolumpy skin
disease,
 from the lesions of onchocerciasis,
 streptothricosis,
 globidiosis,
 ringworm,
 skin tuberculosis and urticaria, and
 from tick and insect bites.

39. Other conditions of differential importance
include:
 malignant catarrhal fever,
 photosensitization and
 sweating sickness.

40. Immunology:
The duration of immunity in recovered
animals is unknown but it is probably
lifelong.
A hypersensitivity test is used to detect
`immune' animals.
The antigen is injected intradermally and
the test is read 48 hours later, an increase
in the skin thickness of 3 mm or greater
being considered positive.

41. Control:
Quarantine measures do not prevent
spread of lumpy skin disease.
Prophylactic vaccination is therefore
recommended for the protection of cattle in
endemic areas.
Vaccines are available; an attenuated
Neethling strain of the virus is used in
south Africa and an attenuated sheep-goat
pox vaccine in East Africa.

42. If the disease occurs affected animals
should be segregated in insect-proof
buildings, and in-contact animals should be
vaccinated. proper disposal of carcasses
cleaning and disinfection of the premises
and insect control
Import restrictions can help prevent the
introduction of LSD