Lumpy skin disease (LSD), which affects cattle, earns its name from the nodules and ulcers that appear on the skin of the animal. It is a notifiable disease, which means the state veterinarian must be informed when an animal is diagnosed with LSD, as specific control measures have to be implemented.
LSD, which is caused by a poxvirus, can be financially devastating. It causes emaciation (loss of body condition because the animal is reluctant to feed); temporary or permanent loss of milk production; lowered or complete loss of fertility in bulls and cows; and abortion. Up to 45% of a herd can become infected and the mortality rate may reach 10%. Blood-feeding insects such as mosquitoes and flies act as vectors for the virus, and the disease can also be spread through the saliva of infected animals when animals share a drinking trough.
This story is from the February 14, 2020 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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This story is from the February 14, 2020 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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