Lumpy skin disease is caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), which
belongs to the genus capripoxvirus, a part of the poxviridae family
(smallpox and monkeypox viruses are also a part of the same family). The
LSDV shares antigenic similarities with the sheeppox virus (SPPV) and the
goatpox virus (GTPV) or is similar in the immune response to those viruses.
It is not a zoonotic virus, meaning the disease cannot spread to
human beings but a contagious vector-borne disease spread by vectors like
mosquitoes, some biting flies, and ticks and usually affects host animals
like cows and water buffaloes.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO), infected animals shed the virus through oral and nasal secretions
which may contaminate common feeding and water troughs. Thus, the disease
can either spread through direct contact with the vectors or through
contaminated fodder and water.
Studies have also shown that it can spread through animal semen
during artificial insemination.
The Police should take strict action and order for the prohibition of
cattle transportation in the cities to prevent the spread of the lumpy skin
disease. This means cattle cannot be moved out of the place they are being
raised or transported to marketplaces. The disease has killed more than
three lakh cattle in India and four thousand in AP, having spread to 18
districts. The contagious viral infection has spread in cattle in more than
16 States and Union Territories so far. The vaccine is expected to come in
2025, analyst and Praja Science Vedika president Dr. Suresh Babu observed.LSD affects the lymph nodes of the infected animal, causing the nodes to
enlarge and appear like lumps on the skin, which is where it derives its
name from. The cutaneous nodules, 2–5 cm in diameter, appear on the
infected cattle’s head, neck, limbs, udder, genitalia, and perineum.
The nodules may later turn into ulcers and eventually develop scabs
over the skin. The other symptoms include high fever, sharp drop in milk
yield, discharge from the eyes and nose, salivation, loss of appetite,
depression, damaged hides, emaciation (thinness or weakness) of animals,
infertility and abortions. The incubation period or the time between
infection and symptoms is about 28 days according to the FAO, and 4 to 14
days according to some other estimates.
The spread in South Asia first affected Bangladesh in July 2019 and then
reached India in August that year, with initial cases being detected in
Odisha and West Bengal. The FAO points out: “The long porous borders
between India, Nepal and Bangladesh allow for a significant amount of
bilateral and informal animal trade, including cattle and buffaloes.”
Studies say that it has not been possible to ascertain the
presence of viable and infectious LSDV virus in milk derived from the
infected animal. FAO notes, however, that a large portion of the milk in
Asia is processed after collection and is either pasteurised or boiled or
dried in order to make milk powder. This process ensures that the virus is
inactivated or destroyed. It is safe to consume milk from the infected
cattle. There is no problem in the quality of milk even if you have it
after boiling or without boiling.
The current outbreak in India has emerged as a challenge for the dairy
sector. India is the world’s largest milk producer at about 210 million
tonnes annually. India also has the largest headcount of cattle and buffalo
worldwide.
The outbreak started in Gujarat and Rajashthan around July and had spread
to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar and Uttarakhand by early
August. It then spread to Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. In
recent weeks, it was reported in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi,
Jharkhand, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, Orissa, Chattisgad and Andhra Pradesh
. The virus has infected over 26 lakh cattle in 312 districts as of
November 21. Of the nearly 480,000 cattle that the disease has killed, more
than 275,000 deaths, mostly cows, have been reported from Rajasthan.
belongs to the genus capripoxvirus, a part of the poxviridae family
(smallpox and monkeypox viruses are also a part of the same family). The
LSDV shares antigenic similarities with the sheeppox virus (SPPV) and the
goatpox virus (GTPV) or is similar in the immune response to those viruses.
It is not a zoonotic virus, meaning the disease cannot spread to
human beings but a contagious vector-borne disease spread by vectors like
mosquitoes, some biting flies, and ticks and usually affects host animals
like cows and water buffaloes.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO), infected animals shed the virus through oral and nasal secretions
which may contaminate common feeding and water troughs. Thus, the disease
can either spread through direct contact with the vectors or through
contaminated fodder and water.
Studies have also shown that it can spread through animal semen
during artificial insemination.
The Police should take strict action and order for the prohibition of
cattle transportation in the cities to prevent the spread of the lumpy skin
disease. This means cattle cannot be moved out of the place they are being
raised or transported to marketplaces. The disease has killed more than
three lakh cattle in India and four thousand in AP, having spread to 18
districts. The contagious viral infection has spread in cattle in more than
16 States and Union Territories so far. The vaccine is expected to come in
2025, analyst and Praja Science Vedika president Dr. Suresh Babu observed.LSD affects the lymph nodes of the infected animal, causing the nodes to
enlarge and appear like lumps on the skin, which is where it derives its
name from. The cutaneous nodules, 2–5 cm in diameter, appear on the
infected cattle’s head, neck, limbs, udder, genitalia, and perineum.
The nodules may later turn into ulcers and eventually develop scabs
over the skin. The other symptoms include high fever, sharp drop in milk
yield, discharge from the eyes and nose, salivation, loss of appetite,
depression, damaged hides, emaciation (thinness or weakness) of animals,
infertility and abortions. The incubation period or the time between
infection and symptoms is about 28 days according to the FAO, and 4 to 14
days according to some other estimates.
The spread in South Asia first affected Bangladesh in July 2019 and then
reached India in August that year, with initial cases being detected in
Odisha and West Bengal. The FAO points out: “The long porous borders
between India, Nepal and Bangladesh allow for a significant amount of
bilateral and informal animal trade, including cattle and buffaloes.”
Studies say that it has not been possible to ascertain the
presence of viable and infectious LSDV virus in milk derived from the
infected animal. FAO notes, however, that a large portion of the milk in
Asia is processed after collection and is either pasteurised or boiled or
dried in order to make milk powder. This process ensures that the virus is
inactivated or destroyed. It is safe to consume milk from the infected
cattle. There is no problem in the quality of milk even if you have it
after boiling or without boiling.
The current outbreak in India has emerged as a challenge for the dairy
sector. India is the world’s largest milk producer at about 210 million
tonnes annually. India also has the largest headcount of cattle and buffalo
worldwide.
The outbreak started in Gujarat and Rajashthan around July and had spread
to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar and Uttarakhand by early
August. It then spread to Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. In
recent weeks, it was reported in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi,
Jharkhand, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, Orissa, Chattisgad and Andhra Pradesh
. The virus has infected over 26 lakh cattle in 312 districts as of
November 21. Of the nearly 480,000 cattle that the disease has killed, more
than 275,000 deaths, mostly cows, have been reported from Rajasthan.
