Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a disorder which is affecting most of the animals and thus is spreading to nations worldwide and is becoming as an epidemic in current times and serves as a platform to turn attention towards its rising disorder. It is a carrier spread disease transmitted by different arthropods. This article provides detailed information about the LSD, LSDV, and diagnosis (not by regular blood tests but using special techniques, such as fluorescence, antibodies tests, and ELISA), treatment of this fatal disease by both pharmacological and non-pharmacological factors, methods to reduce the risk of LSD. Still there is no permanent cure for this disease but healthcare professionals are prescribing some medicines to prevent the spread of this life-threatening disease. But quarantine of the infected animal is the first aid to be provided in case of absence of medication. LSD is a severe and sometimes fatal infectious disease affecting cattle. LSD mainly spread through skin nodule. It is believed to be pandemic in Africa, mainly a disease of cattle with 20% survival rate and 2% chances of case fatality. In some cases, the use of strong antibiotic therapy has proven effective. However, before the widespread implementation of live attenuated vaccination programs, the disease continued to spread across regions, primarily following a seasonal pattern, despite the application of various control and containment measures. To date, the most probable vectors for the transmission of LSDV are blood-feeding arthropods, including flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. Recent clinical studies suggest that the common housefly may also play a significant role in spreading LSDV; however, this hypothesis has yet to be validated in a controlled clinical environment.

Keywords:Epidemic, spread, diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, non-pharmacological treatment, quarantine of the infected animals

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1. Givens MD. Risks of disease transmission through semen in cattle. Animal. 2018;12(s1):s165–s171. doi: 10.1017/S1751731118000708.
2. Tuppurainen ESM, Alexandrov T, Beltran‐Alcrudo D. Lumpy skin disease field manual ‐ A manual for veterinarians. FAO Animal Production and Health Manual; 2017;20:1–60.
3. Tuppurainen ES, Stoltsz WH, Troskie M, Wallace DB, Oura CA, Mellor PS, et al. A potential role for ixodid (hard) tick vectors in the transmission of lumpy skin disease virus in cattle. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2011;58(2):93–104. doi: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2010.01184.x.
4. Tuppurainen ES, Oura CA. Lumpy skin disease: An emerging threat to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2012;59(1):40–48. doi: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2011.01242.x.
5. Sprygin A, Pestova Y, Wallace DB, Tuppurainen E, Kononov AV. Transmission of lumpy skin disease virus: A short review. Virus Res. 2019;269:197637. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2019.05.015.
6. Bhanuprakash V, Indrani BK, Hosamani M, Singh RK. The current status of sheep pox disease. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2006;29(1):27–60. doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2005.12.001.
7. Namazi F, Khodakaram Tafti A. Lumpy skin disease, an emerging transboundary viral disease: A review. Vet Med Sci. 2021;7(3):888–896. doi: 10.1002/vms3.434.
8. Patterson C. Veterinary Medicine: A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Pigs, and Goats, 11th edition, Volumes 1 and 2. Can Vet J. 2017;58(10):1116
9. Coetzer JA, Tuppurainen E, Babiuk S, Wallace DB. Lumpy skin disease. In: Infectious Diseases of Livestock. Anipedia; 2004;2:1268–1276.
10. Babiuk S, Bowden TR, Boyle DB, Wallace DB, Kitching RP. Capripoxviruses: An emerging worldwide threat to sheep, goats and cattle. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2008;55(7):263–272. doi: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2008.01043.x.
11. Tuppurainen ES, Venter EH, Coetzer JA. The detection of lumpy skin disease virus in samples of experimentally infected cattle using different diagnostic techniques. Onderstepoort Journal of Vet Res. 2005;72(2):153–164. doi: 10.4102/ojvr.v72i2.213.
12. Magori-Cohen R, Louzoun Y, Herziger Y, Oron E, Arazi A, Tuppurainen E, et al. Mathematical modelling and evaluation of the different routes of transmission of lumpy skin disease virus. Vet Res. 2012;43(1):1. doi: 10.1186/1297-9716-43-1.
13. Kahana‐Sutin E, Klement E, Lensky I, Gottlieb Y. High relative abundance of the stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans is associated with lumpy skin disease outbreaks in Israeli dairy farms. Med Vet Entomol. 2017;31(2):150–160. doi: 10.1111/mve.12217.
14. Sevik M, Dogan M. Epidemiological and molecular studies on lumpy skin disease outbreaks in Turkey during 2014–2015. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2017;64(4):1268–1279. doi: 10.1111/tbed.12501.
15. Carn VM, Kitching RP. An investigation of possible routes of transmission of lumpy skin disease virus (Neethling). Epidemiol Infect. 1995;114(1):219–226. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800052067.
16. Chihota CM, Rennie LF, Kitching RP, Mellor PS. Attempted mechanical transmission of lumpy skin disease virus by biting insects. Med Vet Entomol. 2003;17(3):294–300. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2915.2003.00445.x.
17. Baldacchino F, Muenworn V, Desquesnes M, Desoli F, Charoenviriyaphap T, Duvallet G. Transmission of pathogens by Stomoxys flies (Diptera, Muscidae): A review. Parasite. 2013;20:26. doi: 10.1051/parasite/2013026.
18. Yeruham I, Nir O, Braverman Y, Davidson M, Grinstein H, Haymovitch M, et al. Spread of lumpy skin disease in Israeli dairy herds. Vet Rec. 1995;137(4):91–93. doi: 10.1136/vr.137.4.91.
19. Annandale CH, Irons PC, Bagla VP, Osuagwuh UI, Venter EH. Sites of persistence of lumpy skin disease virus in the genital tract of experimentally infected bulls. Reprod Domest Anim. 2010;45(2):250–255. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01274.x.
20. Annandale CH, Holm DE, Ebersohn K, Venter EH. Seminal transmission of lumpy skin disease virus in heifers. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2014;61(5):443–448. doi: 10.1111/tbed.12045.
21. Irons PC, Tuppurainen ES, Venter EH. Excretion of lumpy skin disease virus in bull semen. Theriogenology. 2005;63(5):1290–1297. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.06.013.
22. Gari G, Waret-Szkuta A, Grosbois V, Jacquiet P, Roger F. Risk factors associated with observed clinical lumpy skin disease in Ethiopia. Epidemiol Infect. 2010;138(11):1657–1666. doi: 10.1017/S0950268810000506.
23. Ochwo S, VanderWaal K, Munsey A, Nkamwesiga J, Ndekezi C, Auma E, et al. Seroprevalence and risk factors for lumpy skin disease virus seropositivity in cattle in Uganda. BMC Vet Res. 2019;15(1):236. doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-1983-9.
24. Barnard BJ. Antibodies against some viruses of domestic animals in southern African wild animals. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 1997;64(2):95–110
25. Lamien CE, Lelenta M, Goger W, Silber R, Tuppurainen E, Matijevic M, et al. Real time PCR method for simultaneous detection, quantitation and differentiation of capripoxviruses. J Virol Methods. 2011;171(1):134–140. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2010.10.014.
26. Le Goff C, Lamien CE, Fakhfakh E, Chadeyras A, Aba-Adulugba E, Libeau G, et al. Capripoxvirus G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor: a host-range gene suitable for virus animal origin discrimination. J Gen Virol. 2009;90(8):1967–1977. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.010686-0.
27. Davies FG. Observations on the epidemiology of lumpy skin disease in Kenya. J Hyg (Lond). 1982;88(1):95–102. doi: 10.1017/s002217240006993x.
28. Tuppurainen ES, Venter EH, Shisler JL, Gari G, Mekonnen GA, Juleff N, et al. Capripoxvirus diseases: Current status and opportunities for control. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2017;64(3):729–745. doi: 10.1111/tbed.12444.
29. Fagbo S, Coetzer JA, Venter EH. Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and lumpy skin disease in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa. J S Afr Vet Assoc. 2014;85(1):e1–e7. doi: 10.4102/jsava.v85i1.1075.
30. Alemayehu G, Zewde G, Admassu B. Risk assessments of lumpy skin diseases in Borena bull market chain and its implication for livelihoods and international trade. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2013;45:1153–1159. doi: 10.1007/s11250-012-0340-9.

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a disorder which is affecting most of the animals and thus is spreading to nations worldwide and is becoming as an epidemic in current times and serves as a platform to turn attention towards its rising disorder. It is a carrier spread disease transmitted by different arthropods. This article provides detailed information about the LSD, LSDV, and diagnosis (not by regular blood tests but using special techniques, such as fluorescence, antibodies tests, and ELISA), treatment of this fatal disease by both pharmacological and non-pharmacological factors, methods to reduce the risk of LSD. Still there is no permanent cure for this disease but healthcare professionals are prescribing some medicines to prevent the spread of this life-threatening disease. But quarantine of the infected animal is the first aid to be provided in case of absence of medication. LSD is a severe and sometimes fatal infectious disease affecting cattle. LSD mainly spread through skin nodule. It is believed to be pandemic in Africa, mainly a disease of cattle with 20% survival rate and 2% chances of case fatality. In some cases, the use of strong antibiotic therapy has proven effective. However, before the widespread implementation of live attenuated vaccination programs, the disease continued to spread across regions, primarily following a seasonal pattern, despite the application of various control and containment measures. To date, the most probable vectors for the transmission of LSDV are blood-feeding arthropods, including flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. Recent clinical studies suggest that the common housefly may also play a significant role in spreading LSDV; however, this hypothesis has yet to be validated in a controlled clinical environment.

Keywords:Epidemic, spread, diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, non-pharmacological treatment, quarantine of the infected animals

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Givens MD. Risks of disease transmission through semen in cattle. Animal. 2018;12(s1):s165–s171. doi: 10.1017/S1751731118000708.
2. Tuppurainen ESM, Alexandrov T, Beltran‐Alcrudo D. Lumpy skin disease field manual ‐ A manual for veterinarians. FAO Animal Production and Health Manual; 2017;20:1–60.
3. Tuppurainen ES, Stoltsz WH, Troskie M, Wallace DB, Oura CA, Mellor PS, et al. A potential role for ixodid (hard) tick vectors in the transmission of lumpy skin disease virus in cattle. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2011;58(2):93–104. doi: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2010.01184.x.
4. Tuppurainen ES, Oura CA. Lumpy skin disease: An emerging threat to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2012;59(1):40–48. doi: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2011.01242.x.
5. Sprygin A, Pestova Y, Wallace DB, Tuppurainen E, Kononov AV. Transmission of lumpy skin disease virus: A short review. Virus Res. 2019;269:197637. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2019.05.015.
6. Bhanuprakash V, Indrani BK, Hosamani M, Singh RK. The current status of sheep pox disease. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2006;29(1):27–60. doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2005.12.001.
7. Namazi F, Khodakaram Tafti A. Lumpy skin disease, an emerging transboundary viral disease: A review. Vet Med Sci. 2021;7(3):888–896. doi: 10.1002/vms3.434.
8. Patterson C. Veterinary Medicine: A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Pigs, and Goats, 11th edition, Volumes 1 and 2. Can Vet J. 2017;58(10):1116
9. Coetzer JA, Tuppurainen E, Babiuk S, Wallace DB. Lumpy skin disease. In: Infectious Diseases of Livestock. Anipedia; 2004;2:1268–1276.
10. Babiuk S, Bowden TR, Boyle DB, Wallace DB, Kitching RP. Capripoxviruses: An emerging worldwide threat to sheep, goats and cattle. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2008;55(7):263–272. doi: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2008.01043.x.
11. Tuppurainen ES, Venter EH, Coetzer JA. The detection of lumpy skin disease virus in samples of experimentally infected cattle using different diagnostic techniques. Onderstepoort Journal of Vet Res. 2005;72(2):153–164. doi: 10.4102/ojvr.v72i2.213.
12. Magori-Cohen R, Louzoun Y, Herziger Y, Oron E, Arazi A, Tuppurainen E, et al. Mathematical modelling and evaluation of the different routes of transmission of lumpy skin disease virus. Vet Res. 2012;43(1):1. doi: 10.1186/1297-9716-43-1.
13. Kahana‐Sutin E, Klement E, Lensky I, Gottlieb Y. High relative abundance of the stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans is associated with lumpy skin disease outbreaks in Israeli dairy farms. Med Vet Entomol. 2017;31(2):150–160. doi: 10.1111/mve.12217.
14. Sevik M, Dogan M. Epidemiological and molecular studies on lumpy skin disease outbreaks in Turkey during 2014–2015. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2017;64(4):1268–1279. doi: 10.1111/tbed.12501.
15. Carn VM, Kitching RP. An investigation of possible routes of transmission of lumpy skin disease virus (Neethling). Epidemiol Infect. 1995;114(1):219–226. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800052067.
16. Chihota CM, Rennie LF, Kitching RP, Mellor PS. Attempted mechanical transmission of lumpy skin disease virus by biting insects. Med Vet Entomol. 2003;17(3):294–300. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2915.2003.00445.x.
17. Baldacchino F, Muenworn V, Desquesnes M, Desoli F, Charoenviriyaphap T, Duvallet G. Transmission of pathogens by Stomoxys flies (Diptera, Muscidae): A review. Parasite. 2013;20:26. doi: 10.1051/parasite/2013026.
18. Yeruham I, Nir O, Braverman Y, Davidson M, Grinstein H, Haymovitch M, et al. Spread of lumpy skin disease in Israeli dairy herds. Vet Rec. 1995;137(4):91–93. doi: 10.1136/vr.137.4.91.
19. Annandale CH, Irons PC, Bagla VP, Osuagwuh UI, Venter EH. Sites of persistence of lumpy skin disease virus in the genital tract of experimentally infected bulls. Reprod Domest Anim. 2010;45(2):250–255. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01274.x.
20. Annandale CH, Holm DE, Ebersohn K, Venter EH. Seminal transmission of lumpy skin disease virus in heifers. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2014;61(5):443–448. doi: 10.1111/tbed.12045.
21. Irons PC, Tuppurainen ES, Venter EH. Excretion of lumpy skin disease virus in bull semen. Theriogenology. 2005;63(5):1290–1297. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.06.013.
22. Gari G, Waret-Szkuta A, Grosbois V, Jacquiet P, Roger F. Risk factors associated with observed clinical lumpy skin disease in Ethiopia. Epidemiol Infect. 2010;138(11):1657–1666. doi: 10.1017/S0950268810000506.
23. Ochwo S, VanderWaal K, Munsey A, Nkamwesiga J, Ndekezi C, Auma E, et al. Seroprevalence and risk factors for lumpy skin disease virus seropositivity in cattle in Uganda. BMC Vet Res. 2019;15(1):236. doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-1983-9.
24. Barnard BJ. Antibodies against some viruses of domestic animals in southern African wild animals. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 1997;64(2):95–110
25. Lamien CE, Lelenta M, Goger W, Silber R, Tuppurainen E, Matijevic M, et al. Real time PCR method for simultaneous detection, quantitation and differentiation of capripoxviruses. J Virol Methods. 2011;171(1):134–140. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2010.10.014.
26. Le Goff C, Lamien CE, Fakhfakh E, Chadeyras A, Aba-Adulugba E, Libeau G, et al. Capripoxvirus G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor: a host-range gene suitable for virus animal origin discrimination. J Gen Virol. 2009;90(8):1967–1977. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.010686-0.
27. Davies FG. Observations on the epidemiology of lumpy skin disease in Kenya. J Hyg (Lond). 1982;88(1):95–102. doi: 10.1017/s002217240006993x.
28. Tuppurainen ES, Venter EH, Shisler JL, Gari G, Mekonnen GA, Juleff N, et al. Capripoxvirus diseases: Current status and opportunities for control. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2017;64(3):729–745. doi: 10.1111/tbed.12444.
29. Fagbo S, Coetzer JA, Venter EH. Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and lumpy skin disease in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa. J S Afr Vet Assoc. 2014;85(1):e1–e7. doi: 10.4102/jsava.v85i1.1075.
30. Alemayehu G, Zewde G, Admassu B. Risk assessments of lumpy skin diseases in Borena bull market chain and its implication for livelihoods and international trade. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2013;45:1153–1159. doi: 10.1007/s11250-012-0340-9.