Update of Lumpy Skin Disease: Emergence in Asian Part of Eurasia

Abstract

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an infectious disease mostly of cattle. The typical clinical picture is usually characterized by the appearance of multiple nodules on the skin and internal organs. They can cover the entire body of the animal in the course of severe illness. This disease causes serious economic damage despite the fact that mortality of cattle with LSD is often low. Now LSD is a serious danger for cattle in the Asian part of Russia (part of the territory of the Russian Federation geographically belonging to Asia) and the Southeast Asia. Initially LSD was an endemic disease in many Sub-Saharan African countries, then it spread to Asia and Europe. In order to prevent the spread of the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), strict quarantine is introduced, vector control is carried out and various other LSD control measures are implemented. An effective vaccination campaign is required to significantly reduce the morbidity. However, the risk of spreading this transboundary disease to neighboring LSDV virus-free countries and regions of Asia, remains high enough. This article contains a summary of the available information about the spread of LSD in Asian part of Eurasia for the period of 1984 - February 2022. We are also discussing the latest available findings on the epidemiology of LSD and the methods currently used for the prevention and control of the LSDV.

Global Burden of Lumpy Skin Disease, Outbreaks, and Future Challenges

“…Outbreaks have been reported in Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Malaysia in 2020 at the month of June, July, September, October and November, respectively [ 44 , 81 ]. An outbreak in Thailand was reported to WOAH in April 2021, subsequently also in Lao People’s Democratic Republic in May and in Pakistan in November of the same year [ 11 , 13 , 123 ]. Very recently, LSD was confirmed in Indonesia and Singapore in March 2022, [ 124 ].…”

“…The first occurrence of LSD outside of Africa was reported in Israel between 1986 and 1988 and has gradually spread to the Middle East, then Eastern Europe and Russia [ 8 ], with subsequent spread through the Balkans [ 9 ]. In 2019, new cases were reported in South and East Asia [ 2 ], presenting an ongoing threat to all the Indo-Asian countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan and India [ 10 , 11 ]. Current active case identification in Asia (China, Cambodia, Singapore and Indonesia) has raised concerns about the intrusion of this virus into LSD-free countries with large, naïve cattle populations, such as Australia [ 12 ].…”

Lumpy skin disease virus: An updated overview

“…; (b) direct contact between ruminant animals; and (c) by contaminated food and water. [14] There are two routes for LSDV…”

Analysis of factors associated with the first lumpy skin disease outbreaks in naïve cattle herds in different regions of Thailand

“…While LSD was previously confined to Africa with occasional incursions into the Middle East, recent outbreaks have raised concerns about its emergence and rapid spread in Asia (4,(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). Thailand, being a significant hub for livestock production and trade in Southeast Asia, has also experienced the impact of LSD outbreaks since March 2021 (15).…”