Lumpy Skin Disease Virus: Comprehensive Insights into Its Pathogenesis, Transmission Dynamics, Epidemiology, and Control Strategies

Abstract

Lumpy skin disease is an acute, subacute, or asymptomatic viral infection in cattle, marked by fever and the abrupt emergence of hard, confined skin nodules that often undergo necrosis. The 151-kbp LSDV genome has a core coding region flanked by identical 2.4 kbp inverted terminal repeats and includes 156 putative genes. The dissemination of "lumpy skin disease virus" (LSDV) has incited rigorous research initiatives owing to the fast proliferation and significant consequences of the disease in recent years. Disease transmission primarily occurs by insects, sometimes through mechanical vectors, contaminated feed and water, infected saliva, and seldom through natural contact. LSD is prevalent in several African nations and primarily coexists with sheeppox and goatpox. Affected cattle had acute clinical manifestations including dermal nodules, pyrexia, lymphadenopathy, cachexia, and edema of the lower limbs. The disease has proliferated swiftly and extensively over the globe, predominantly in Asian nations and Pakistan. The disease has disseminated by the end of year 2021 in Sindh province Pakistan and then spread across all provinces of Pakistan, affecting large number of cattle and to some extent buffalo also. The purpose of this review is to strengthen and examine the previous as well as the most current research findings on lumpy skin disease virus transmission (vector and non-vector), clinical signs, geographical distribution, and vaccination against this virus.