Risk of recurrence of lumpy skin disease in buffalo and cattle

Symptoms of lumpy skin disease

Sicklumpy skin diseaseAlso known as lumpy skin disease, is an infectious disease caused by a virus of the Poxviridae family in buffalo and cattle; it does not cause disease in humans. Arthropods, such as mosquitoes, flies, ticks, gnats... are considered vectors of the disease. Some sick animals do not show clinical symptoms, but carry the virus in their blood and can transmit the disease to healthy animals through blood-sucking insects.

An easily recognizable symptom of a cow with lumpy skin disease is the presence of many lumps on the skin. Photo courtesy

In reality, lumpy skin disease has a high mortality rate because the disease often occurs in cattle and buffaloes due to other diseases such as respiratory, digestive, blood parasites, etc., or because they are not cared for or treated according to the instructions of veterinary staff.

Regarding symptoms, when buffalo and cows get lumpy skin disease, they often have the following signs: High fever, possibly over 41°C, loss of appetite, weakness, emaciation; marked reduction in milk production in lactating cattle; rhinitis, conjunctivitis and excessive salivation; swollen superficial lymph nodes; formation of nodules with a diameter of 2 - 5 cm, especially on the scalp, neck, legs, udder, etc. within 48 hours of starting a fever reaction. These nodules are round, firm and raised above the skin, subcutaneous tissue and sometimes the underlying muscles.

When a herd of cattle shows symptoms of lumpy skin disease, farmers need to report to local authorities for timely disease prevention solutions. Photo courtesy

Large nodules may become necrotic, leading to fibrosis and persisting for several months, leaving scars that may be permanent. Vesicles, necrosis and ulcers may appear in the mucous membranes of the mouth and digestive tract as well as in the trachea and lungs. The legs and other abdominal parts of the body, such as the skin, breast, scrotum, etc., may secrete fluid, making the animal reluctant to move.

With the participation of specialized agencies and authorities at all levels, the work of preventing and controlling lumpy skin disease since the end of 2021 has been basically controlled on a small scale, not allowing it to spread, with only a few small outbreaks appearing in livestock households that did not vaccinate according to regulations.

In September 2022, an outbreak of lumpy skin disease occurred in Lam Son commune, Do Luong district, but was controlled by veterinary agencies on a small scale. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Vaccination to prevent disease

Although lumpy skin disease has been contained and controlled, there is a high risk of it re-emerging in the near future. Because according to the recommendations of the professional agency, vaccination only creates antibody titers for 1 year, and by now the immunity has run out, but local authorities and livestock farmers have not paid attention to the work.vaccinationdisease prevention. In 2022, spring vaccination in most localities has a very low rate of livestock, even some localities have a rate of less than 20% of the total herd. This is the reason why lumpy skin disease has a high risk of recurrence in the province's buffalo and cattle herds.

Farmers need to clean the environment in the barn area to prevent diseases for livestock. Photo: Xuan Hoang

According to Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, to proactively prevent lumpy skin disease in buffaloes and cows, vaccination is an extremely necessary factor, in order to minimize economic losses caused by the disease. After the rainy season, due to low vaccination rates combined with favorable weather for insects: flies, mosquitoes, ticks, gnats... to develop, along with pathogens in feces and waste drifting with water flows spreading everywhere in the environment, leading to outbreaks of not only lumpy skin disease but also other infectious diseases.

Therefore, the solution to prevent diseases in general for livestock is to promote vaccination; at the same time, regularly disinfect by sprinkling lime powder around the barn; farmers need to apply bio-safety farming to avoid pathogens from entering. When increasing the livestock herd, farmers need to find and buy breeds of clear origin and disease-free.

Vaccination is an effective disease prevention solution for cattle. Photo: Quan An

Especially during the rainy and stormy season, in low-lying areas, people should proactively build high-rise barns, or use buoyant materials such as barrels combined into floating rafts, to provide shelter for livestock when flooded, along with preparing dry food for livestock.

“The most effective solution to prevent lumpy skin disease in particular and diseases in general for livestock is annual vaccination. Therefore, localities need to strongly direct livestock farmers to ensure a vaccination rate of at least 80% of the total herd; at the same time, do a good job of reporting when re-entering the herd.”

MR. NGO DUC QUYNH - DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF LIVESTOCK AND VETERINARY DEPARTMENT

Nghe An has a total herd of about 800,000 buffalo and cows. In order for livestock to develop safely, veterinary work in the province has always been focused on and directed promptly, so that diseases in livestock are basically well controlled. However, the lumpy skin disease epidemic situation still has the risk of becoming complicated, especially after prolonged heavy rains. Therefore, in addition to timely consultation from professional agencies with the Provincial People's Committee, local authorities at all levels and people need to do a good job of disease prevention, in which vaccination is the most effective solution./.