The Acquisition and Retention of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus by Blood-Feeding Insects Is Influenced by the Source of Virus, the Insect Body Part, and the Time since Feeding

Abstract

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a high consequence pathogen of cattle that is rapidly expanding its geographical boundaries into new regions such as Europe and Asia. This expansion is promoted by the mechanical transmission of the virus via hematogenous arthropods.

The immune response to lumpy skin disease virus in cattle is influenced by inoculation route

“…In total, 7 calves (41%) developed clinical disease. Clinical findings for groups A - C have been described previously (11, 18, 50). The clinical outcomes in group D are summarised in Figure 1 and were consistent with those seen previously in groups A - C. Three of the 5 calves in group D developed clinical disease (D2, D4 and D5), defined as cutaneous lesions distant from the inoculation site.…”

“…A PCR was used to detect and quantify LSDV genomic DNA in venous blood samples collected from clinical and nonclinical calves. The viraemia of calves from groups A-C have been described previously (18, 50). The viraemia detected in calves from group D is shown in Figures 1E and F.…”

“…The untreated animal in each experiment was not inoculated. In all three experiments blood-feeding arthropods were fed on the skin of some of the inoculated calves as described previously (11, 18, 50).…”

“…One calf in group D (D5) developed over 100 cutaneous lesions and was then used as a “donor” animal. Stomoxys calcitrans and Aedes aegypti insects were bred at The Pirbright Institute as described previously (18, 50). Adult insects were fed on the cutaneous lesions of calf D5 for a maximum of 40 sec before being interrupted and within a maximum of 1 h fed on the calves in group RA (n=5) and RS (n=5), as described in Table 1.…”

“…Mock virus preparations were produced in an identical manner from uninfected MDBK cells for use as a negative control in immunological assays Four experimental studies are reported in this manuscript. The design, clinical outcomes, and pathology from the first three studies (A-C) have been reported previously (11,18,50). Briefly, in each of these studies a group of 5 calves were randomly assigned to treatment (n=4) or non-treatment (n=1) groups.…”