Economic Importance and Control Techniques of Lumpy Skin Diseases

Abstract

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an acute infectious disease of cattle endemic in most Sub-Saharan African countries. It is economically devastating viral diseases which cause several financial problems in livestock industries as a result of significant milk yield loss, infertility, abortion and death. It is caused by lumpy skin diseases virus of capripoxvirus. The disease is characterized by fever, enlarged lymph nodes, firm, and circumscribed nodules in the skin and ulcerative lesions particularly in the mucous membrane of the mouth. It occurs in all agro climatic conditions and has the potential to extend its boundaries. It is transmitted by insect vectors among the cattle sharing similar grazing and watering areas and those congregate in the same barn. Good understanding of epidemiology, economic significance and control mechanisms of the disease enabled to design suitable control measures. LSD could be diagnosed using appropriate serological and molecular techniques. Effective control measure of the disease is achieved through mass vaccination though separation and culling of infected animals are optional methods.