Lumpy Skin Disease in Cattle

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease caused by lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), a member of Capripoxvirus genus, subfamily Chordopoxvirniae and Poxviridae family. Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a double‐stranded DNA containing around 150 kilobase pairs (kbp) with relatively large sizes (230–260 nm), enclosed in a lipid envelope The disease is known by various names such as “LSD”, “Pseudo-urticaria”, “Neethling virus disease”, “exanthema nodularis bovis”, and “knopvelsiekte”. The world organization for animal health (OIE) categorises the LSD as notifiable diseasedue to its significant economic losses and the potential for rapid spread. The first case of LSD was reported from Zambia in 1929. According to OIE, at present this disease is prevalent in countries including various African, European and Asian countries. The reasons of the disease spread to India are unknown but it may be due to livestock movement across international borders or may be due to vectors movement from the neighbouring countries. In recent years, LSD has been reported from countries neighbouring India like China and Bangladesh. Therefore, understanding the epidemiology of exotic diseases becomes necessary for timely planning the effective disease management.