Lumpy Skin disease: Review of literature

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) causes huge economic losses in the livestock industry. It is caused by Lumpy skin disease virus(LSDV), which belongs to the family Poxviridae, with the Neethling strain the prototype. LSDV belongs to the genus Capripoxvirus that includes sheep pox virus and goat pox virus. LSD is an enzootic infectious, eruptive and seldom fatal disease of cattle characterised by nodules on the skin. Cattle and water buffalo are the only animal species affected, with high morbidity rate, but low mortality, however, death rates are higher among calves. LSD causes loss of milk and beef production, abortions in females and sterility in males. The original foci of LSD are from Zambia in 1929. LSD is considered as an endemic disease in the African continent. However, the disease has been moved beyond Africa in 1984. It is reported in Madagascar and some countries in the Arab Gulf Peninsula and Middle East. Recently, the disease is reported in LSD free countries (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Iran and Iraq) with potential economic loss to the livestock industry. This review article intends to discuss the LSD in the light of the recent situation raises concerns the spreading of the disease in LSD free countries.