Epidemiology Of Lumpy Skin Disease In Ethiopia And Its Economic Impact

Abstract

   Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is one of the most economically significant transboundary, emerging viral diseases that affect cattle of all ages and breeds. The disease was first seen in Zambia in 1929 and in Ethiopia in 1983 in the western part of the country southwest of Lake Tana. It is an economically devastating viral disease that causes several financial problems in livestock industries as a result of significant milk yield loss, infertility, abortion, and death. It is caused by a lumpy skin disease virus of capripoxvirus. The disease is characterized by fever, enlarged lymph nodes, firm, and circumscribed nodules in the skin, and ulcerative lesions. The diameter of the nodular lesion may be up to 1-7 cm diameter appears as round, firm, intradermal, and circumscribed areas of erected hair. It occurs in all agroclimatic conditions but is common, particularly in low-lying areas and along watercourses. It is transmitted by insect vectors among the cattle sharing similar grazing and watering areas and those congregate in the same barn. A good understanding of epidemiology, economic significance, and control mechanisms of the disease enables to design of suitable control measures. Effective control measure of the disease is achieved through mass vaccination through separation and culling of infected animals.

Keywords:-  Epidemiology, Lumpy Skin Disease, Poxvirus, Vectors