As reported on October 13, 2020, the viral lumpy skin disease (LSD) has spread to cattle and buffalo in about a dozen big Indian states triggering concerns among thousands of dairy farmers. However, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) sees no significant impact on milk production currently. But, if the infection spreads, it would result in higher costs of antibiotics for farmers.
LSD is a chronic weakness in the affected animals, which reduces milk production, causes poor growth, infertility, abortion, and significant losses to the dairy farmer. The disease, first reported from Mayurbhanj, Odisha in August 2019, has been found in many parts of the country, like Karnataka, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The number of affected animals is also not known.
The NDDB has already started spreading awareness on managing the disease in affected animals using traditional and ayurvedic veterinary medicine preparations, which are cost-effective, efficacious and can easily be prepared and administered by farmers locally.
Lumpy skin disease is caused by infection of water buffalo with the poxvirus, namely, lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), which is one of three closely related species within the genus capripoxvirus: two species being Sheeppox virus and Goatpox virus. First detected in Zambia in 1929, it steadily spread throughout the majority of Africa and into the Middle East. In 2015, the virus entered mainland Europe in Greece, the Caucasus, and Russia. Next year, the virus spread further east into the Balkans, north towards Moscow, and west into Kazakhstan.
Though there is no significant information about the spread of the infection, movement of infected cattle can be a major factor. Available evidence states the transmission of the virus via arthropods such as insects or ticks. The vector species is however not known for the transmission. As for diagnosis, clinical signs include general malaise, ocular and nasal discharge, fever, and sudden decrease in milk production. In recent Euracian epidemic, morbidity and mortality have been approximately 10 per cent and 1 per cent respectively. Some cattle develop very small numbers of nodules of up to 3 cm in diameter, which are difficult to spot.
Cattle breeders should be aware that LSD can be confused with many diseases, such as Pseudo lumpy skin disease (due to Bovine Herpesvirus 2), Bovine papular stomatitis (due to Parapoxvirus), Pseudocowpox (due to Parapoxvirus), Cowpox, Cutaneous tuberculosis, Demodicosis (due to Demodex), insect or tick bites, and so on. Since there is no treatment of the disease so far, prevention is the only cure, which relies on four tactics: movement control (quarantine), vaccination, slaughter campaigns, and management strategies. Besides, specific national control plans vary country-wise. Vaccination is the most effective means of control, and live homologous vaccines containing a Neethling-like strain of LSDV are recommended.
Courtesy: The Hindu