Lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreaks in cattle in Odisha state, India in August 2019: Epidemiological features and molecular studies

Abstract

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) caused by lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) inflicts significant economic losses in cattle production with impact on livelihoods of smallholders. This study reports the first occurrence of LSD in cattle in India and analyses epidemiological and genetic characterization data from LSD outbreaks in five districts of Odisha state in August 2019. In all, 182 of 2,539 cattle were affected with an apparent morbidity rate of 7.1% and no mortality. Out of 102 samples from 60 LSD suspected and 17 asymptomatic in-contact cattle tested, 29.87% cattle were positive by capripoxvirus generic PCR and 37.66% were positive by LSDV real-time PCR. All the in-contact cattle tested were negative for LSDV. Among affected cattle, LSDV genome was detected more in scabs (79.16%) than blood (31.81%) and frozen bull semen (20.45%). Differential diagnosis by PCR was negative for pseudo-LSD, buffalopox, cowpox, pseudo-cowpox and bovine papular stomatitis. Five selected PCR and real-time PCRpositive LSDV DNA were sequenced in three genomic regions, P32 (LSDV074), F (LSDV117) and RPO30 (LSDV036). Phylogenetic analysis based on partial P32 and F gene sequences and complete RPO30 gene sequences showed that all the five Indian LSDV strains were identical and clustered with other field strains of LSDV circulating globally. However, the F and RPO30 gene sequence analyses revealed that Indian LSDV strains are genetically closer to the South African NI2490/KSGP-like strains than the strains detected in Europe, which was rather surprising. The present study established the existence of LSDV in India and involvement of LSDV field strains in the outbreaks. Additionally, we provided evidence of LSDV shedding in semen of naturally infected bulls. Further studies are required to determine the source of LSD introduction, extent of spread, modes of transmission and impact on dairy cattle production in India and effective control measures must be undertaken urgently.

Isolation and characterization of lumpy skin disease virus from cattle in India

“…In 2015-16, the disease was reported in several European countries, viz; Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania [4,12]. LSD was reported for the first time from India in 2019 [5]. The disease has already spread to several states viz; Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh of the country and has caused considerable economic losses to the livestock industry.…”

“…Upon phylogenetic analyses, LSDV/India/2019/Ranchi showed the highest similarity to the Kenyan LSDV strains. The only previous study on LSDV from India also reported that Indian LSDV strains (from Odisha state of India) were closely related with Kenyan LSDV strains [5], suggesting a single LSDV strain is circulating in the country. The disease is primarily transmitted mechanically by arthropod vectors [24] and is capable of spreading across countries or even across continents by the movement of live animals [22].…”

“…By 2015-16, the disease was reported in South-East Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus [4]. Of late the disease was reported for the first time from India in November 2019 [5].…”

First outbreak of lumpy skin disease in Nepal

“…Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a re‐emerging transboundary viral disease of cattle and buffalo (Alkhamis & Vander Waal, 2016; Sudhakar et al, 2020) with great economic impact (Alkhamis & Vander Waal, 2016; Gari, Bonnet, Roger, & Waret‐Szkuta, 2011). The disease is endemic in most African countries and has spread through southeast Europe, Middle East and South Asia (Calistri et al., 2020).…”

Lumpy skin disease outbreaks in vietnam, 2020

“…LSD is endemic in most African countries and has spread through southeast Europe, Middle East and South Asia (Acharya & Subedi, 2020). In addition, outbreaks of LSD have been reported in China and India, as well as Bangladesh and Nepal (Acharya & Subedi, 2020; Lu et al., 2020; Sudhakar et al., 2020).…”