The Economic Killer How Lumpy Skin Disease Affects Dairy Farms

 

The highly infectious viral disease of cattle is none other than the lumpy skin disease (LSD) and it is caused by the virus called the lumpy skin disease virus. And it is characterized by some of the following unique reasons such as fever, nodular skin lesions, enlarged lymph nodes and the reduced productivity in the milk production. And the disease mainly spread through the different resources such as spread through the biting insects and it will lead to the significant number of economic losses in the sector of livestock and most specially in the developing countries.

Etiology of LSD:

The etiology of the LSD disease is given below:

·      Caused by lumpy skin disease virus

·      Pox viridae family

·      Capri poxvirus genus

Epidemiology of LSD:

The main point in the epidemiology of the LSD disease is the susceptible species like the primarily cattle an also the buffaloes as well and another reason is the geographical locations like the Africa, Asia and the middle east.

Transmission of LSD:

The transmission of LSD is mainly the vector borne and transmitted through the mosquitoes, flies and ticks and it is also transmitted through the directed contact and through the contaminated equipment and morbidity rate is 10 to 20 % while the rate of the mortality is 5 to 10 %. And the risk factors are the warm and humid climate, high amount of insect population, poor farm hygiene and the movement of infected animals as well is also one the main risk factor in the LSD disease.

Pathogenesis of LSD:

The pathogenesis of the LSD is briefly explained below:

·      Firstly, the entry of the virus an it enters through the skin from the bite of insect and then the mucous membrane.

·      Secondly, the replication occurs in the local tissues of the body like skin or the lymph nodes and then the virus infects the macrophages and endothelial cells.

·      Thirdly the viremia phase start in which the virus spreads through the blood.

·      Fourth the virus causes the vasculitis and the thrombosis which leads to the tissue necrosis and the formation of the characteristic’s nodules.

·       Fifth the nodules form due to the inflammatory responses may progress to ulceration and scab formation.

·      Sixth and the last one is the systemic effect in which fever due to cytokine release and lymph node enlargement and the edema due to vascular damage.

Clinical signs of the LSD:

There is a general sign such as the fever, loss of appetite, depression and there will be the skin lesions which will be firm round nodules found on the neck, udder, legs and on the genitals. And there will be other signs as well like enlarged lymph nodes, nasal discharge, lameness and the reduced milk production.

Control and Prevention of LSD:

Vaccination is one of the most effective methods and must use the live attenuated vaccines and there should be a vector control through insecticides and fly control measures and last point and the most important one is the management of the farm and the management of the infected animals of the farm.

Conclusion of LSD:

The conclusion of the LSD is very simple and clear that the lumpy skin disease is a serious transboundary disease that will be spreads mainly through the insect vectors and the early detection, vaccination and the vector control are so much essential to minimize then economic losses and to protect the livestock so we must care of our animals through all the aspects so our animals in the farm are surely safe from these types of dangerous diseases and give economically profit to our farm and country.