Investigation of Risk Factors for Lumpy Skin Disease and Prevention Practices in Dak Lak, Vietnam, 2021–2022

Abstract

Lumpy skin disease is a transboundary animal disease primarily affecting cattle, and causing fever, anorexia, skin nodules, mastitis, swelling of peripheral lymph nodes, nasal discharge, watery eyes, and sometimes mortality. The disease was first detected in Vietnam in October 2020 and has spread to 55 out of 63 provinces with around 210,000 cattle and buffaloes infected. Dak Lak was one of the provinces seriously affected by the disease. A retrospective case-control study in three districts of the province was conducted to assess awareness of the disease among local livestock holders and to determine potential risk factors for disease transmission. A total of 276 holdings known to keep cattle or buffalo, including 138 cases (holdings that had at least one animal with clinical signs of the disease) and 138 controls (holdings with no clinically apparent infected animal), were investigated. The study revealed gaps in knowledge and practices among livestock holders on disease control with median scores of 8/20 for knowledge and 5/9 for practices. Vaccination against lumpy skin disease was the only risk factor significantly associated with disease transmission (adjusted odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.21–0.72). We recommend raising the awareness of livestock owners about the risk factors of lumpy skin disease and the importance of vaccination for better prevention and control of outbreaks.