Abstract:
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an acute or inapparent viral disease of cattle which is endemic in many African and
Middle East countries. LSD is one of the major transboundary livestock diseases in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional
study using multistage cluster sampling was undertaken in central and north-western parts of Ethiopia with the
objectives to estimate seroprevalence and to identify and quantify risk factors contributing to the occurrence of
the disease. A total of 2386 cattle sera were sampled from 605 herds and 30 clusters (kebeles) located in 10
districts and tested for presence of LSD virus antibodies using virus neutralization test. All the serum samples
were collected from cattle having no history of LSD vaccination. The overall animal level and herd level apparent
seroprevalences were 25.4% (95% CI: 23.7–27.2) and 48.9% (95% CI: 44.9-52.9), respectively and varied significantly between districts. The true animal level and herd level prevalences were estimated as 26.5% (95% CI:
24.7–28.3) and 52.6% (95% CI: 48.3–56.9), respectively. At animal level, adult age (OR = 2.44 (95% CI:
1.67–3.55) compared to calf), contact with other animals (OR = 0.41 (95% CI: 0.23-0.74), compared to no
contact) and presence of water bodies (OR = 1.61 (95% CI: 1.03–2.52), compared to no such bodies) were
identified as the most important risk factors in relation to testing LSD positive. The putative risk factors altitude,
breed, sex, and presence of animal trade route showed no significant association with LSD sero-status. Generally,
cattle population with many adult animals and that live in wet areas are at highest risk, whereas cattle in
frequent contact with other animals and animal species have lower risk, potentially due to a dilution effect of
vectors.
Description:
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an acute or inapparent viral disease of
cattle characterized by fever, nodular lesions on the skin, mucous
membranes and internal organs, lymphadenopathy, emaciation, oedema of the limb, and sometimes death (Quinn et al., 2002; Radostits
et al., 2007; OIE, 2017; Tuppurainen and Oura, 2012). LSD is caused by
Lumpy skin disease (Neethling) virus (LSDV), a DNA virus of the family
Poxviridae, subfamily Chordopoxvirinae and of the genus Capripoxvirus.
LSDV has close antigenic relationship and resemblance to sheep pox
and goat pox viruses (Quinn et al., 2002; Radostits et al., 2007; Babiuk
et al., 2008b). So far, LSDV is known to have only one serotype. It is
remarkably stable and remains viable in the environment and dried
scabs for several weeks at ambient temperature. The virus survives in
air-dried hides for at least 18 days, necrotic skin nodules for up to 33
days or longer, and for up to 35 days in desiccated crust (OIE et al.,
