Molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis and viral load quantification of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus in Cattle

Abstract

Lumpy skin disease is an emerging, remerging and trans-boundary disease caused by lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) belongs Capripoxvirus genus and Poxviridae family in cattle. The recent episodes of disease outbreak in last 4 years from 2019 to 2023 caused huge socio-economic loss. In the present study, clinical samples from LSD outbreaks were collected from different districts of Karnataka, India for virus isolation and molecular characterization. Preliminary confirmation of LSD virus was performed by targeting envelope protein p32 (192 bp) gene by conventional Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Real-Time qPCR was developed for absolute quantification of viral copy numbers in the infected samples. The viral copy number Log10 (Mean ± SD) in majority of the representative samples ranged from 4.962 to 12.432. The partial genes of GPCR and P32 were sequenced and submitted to GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by comparing sequences with other LSDV, Sheep pox virus (SPPV) and Goat pox virus (GPPV). The results indicated that our isolates have similarity with the LSDV sequences from Nepal, Bangladesh, Botswana, Egypt, Kenya Turkey and Saudi Arabia. It was also found that one of our isolate (OQ383668) clustered with the GPPV with 100% similarity. Our results highlight the necessity of ongoing surveillance and molecular characterization of circulating LSDV strains required for perspective development of suitable LSD vaccine to control the disease.