Lumpy skin disease

The lumpy skin disease (syn. lumpy skin disease, Eng. Lumpy Skin Disease ) is a viral disease of ruminants, which is associated with nodular changes of the skin and mucous membranes. The disease is endemic in Africa, in Europe, no cases have so far been observed.

Etiology and dissemination

The pathogen is the Capripoxvirus nodularis bovis from the genus Capripoxvirus and belongs to the smallpox virus.

The disease is endemic in Africa. Main host is the beef, but also buffalo, giraffes and impalas are susceptible. The morbidity rate is up to 20 %, the mortality is low, however. In unvaccinated cattle occurs every five to six years to an epidemic. The virus is thought to spread via biting flies.

Clinic

The incubation period is 2-4 weeks. Symptoms include fever, increased lacrimation and nasal discharge. In severely affected animals, numerous nodules develop in the skin and the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth and genitals. Based on this picture, the disease got its name ( lumpy skin - " bump skin"). The nodes disintegrate necrotic and are often infected with bacteria secondary.

The disease can also be subclinical with a mild fever and a few skin lesions.

Diagnosis

The clinical picture already allows a presumptive diagnosis. Proving is the virus isolation and identification by electron microscopy or immunological methods (ELISA). Antibodies can be detected by immunofluorescence, virus neutralization assay and Western blot.

Combat

The disease is a notifiable disease. In endemic areas, live vaccines are used on the basis of sheep pox virus.

• Notifiable animal disease
• Viral infection in ruminants