What is Lumpy Skin disease?

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About Lumpy Skin Disease(LSD)-

• Lumpy skin disease is an infectious/viral disease in that affects mostly cows of both indigenous breeds as well as the exotic
• The disease is characterized by fever, enlarged superficial lymph nodes and multiple nodules on the skin and mucus.
• The exotic breeds of cattle like Jersey and HF are more susceptible due to their low immunity levels as compared to indigenous breeds. 
• The LSD also affects buffaloes but not on the scale it does to cattle as buffalos have higher immunity levels as compared to cattle.
• LSD is caused by a virus called lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) of capripoxvirus genus in the poxviridae family(also known as Neethling virus), where capri means goat. 
• The LSDV has origins in Africa and it has been there in that continent for around 100 years now. 
• The African Cape buffalo is possibly the reservoir of this virus in the wild. LSDV has a limited host range and it doen’t infect non-ruminant animals. 
• However, even after coming in close contact with infected cattle,sheep and goats never develop LSD. 
• In Asia, it was first reported in China in 2019, then in Bangladesh and in India. 
• The viruses remain present in the environment and strike when their victim’s immunity goes down. Just like in Covid-19, some people don’t develop any symptoms while others become seriously ill.
• This is primarily a vector-borne disease. It is spread by blood-sucking vectors like mosquitos, ticks, houseflies etc. 
• Sometimes, the LSD spreads through direct close contact also. It also spreads through direct contact with the mucus of the infected cattle. 
• Cattle of all breeds and both sexes and of all age groups are susceptible to LSDV. 
• However, younger animals may be more susceptible to the severe form of the disease. 
• Its spread in Saurashtra coincides with persistent rainfall. During such weather, animals remain stressed and remain susceptible to viral diseases.
• The virus attacks the circulatory system of the animal and thus affects all vital organs of the animal. But it attacks the skin of the animal the most and as a reaction, lumps emerge on the skin of the infected animals. 
• The lumps or nodules cause irritation to animals, consuming a lot of energy of the infected bovine. Sometimes animals go down with fever. 
• All these things put an animal under stress and the animal reduces its food intact. Consequently, milk production reduces by 20 per cent.
• LSD is curable and recovery will be fast if treatment is given at early stages of the infection.  
• While LSD rarely causes deaths on its own, the infection compromises immunity, making the animal susceptible to other infections. 
• Combination of LSD with other infections may prove fatal. Generally, 10 per cent mortality has been observed in LSD.
• LSDV is a very fragile virus and without their host, it dies at around 37 degrees. So, milk produced by an infected animal will be fit for human consumption after boiling or pasteurisation as these processes will kill the viruses, if any, in the milk.
• LSDV doesn’t remain viable, meaning alive, on inanimate surfaces like soil or water beyond five to 10 minutes and there have been no cases of the virus jumping to humans.

• It can be treated with goat pox vaccine that is available in India and has around 70 per cent efficacy. 
• Antibodies develop in an animal three weeks after the animal is given a dose of vaccine and they generally last for six months.

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