Incidence of lumpy skin disease among Egyptian cattle in Giza Governorate , Egypt

The present study was conducted on 500 cattle of different breed in Giza governorate. Their age ranged from 1-7 years of different sexes. All suspected animals were clinically examined. The recoded lesions including the complicated cases in different age and sexes were described. The infected animals were classified according to the severity of clinical status into mild and severe forms. The severe form was recorded in all ages and both sexes in the frezian cattle and some of the native ones while the mild form was recorded in native cattle.The morbidity, mortality and case fatality rates of LSD among examined Egyptian cattle were 100%, 1.8%, and 1.8% respectively. Grossly lumpy skin lesions appeared as nodules 1 to 7 cm in diameter and occurred anywhere on the animal body. The hair stands erected over early skin lesions. The nodules involved the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue and may even spread to the musculature. Histopathological examinations of lumpy skin disease revealed ballooning degeneration of stratum spinosum with microvesicles formation. Eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies specific for LSD were detected by electron microscopy. The main target of treatment trials was to save the animal life and to prevent LSD complications.


Introduction
with severe and serious complications.Clinical signs, epidemiological characters, histopathological Lumpy skin disease (LSD, Pseudo-urticaria, findings and electron microscopical features of LSD in Neethling virus disease, exanthema nodularis bovis this outbreak were recorded in this study.Treatment and knopvelsiekte) was first described in Northern t r i a l s u s i n g d i ff e r e n t d r u g s w e r e t r i e d .Rhodesia in 1929 by Morris (1930).Since then, the disease has spread over most of Africa in a series of Material and methods epizootics as previously recorded by Davies (1991) I-Animals population: The present study was and House (1990) The most recently affected conducted on 500 cattle in Giza governorate farms, countries include Kuwait in 1986-88 as mentioned by slaughter houses and some of them were admitted to Anonymous (1988) and Israel in 1989 as previously the clinic in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cairo recorded by Shimshony (1989).LSD was recorded in University, these animals were examined during the Egypt in 1988 where it was diagnosed clinically in outbreak of lumpy skin disease in April, May, June and Suez Canal governorate then spread to the July 2006.Their age ranged from 1-7 years and of surrounding governorates in the summer of the same different sexes.Most of the examined cattle were year and apparently over-wintered with little or no infected with foot and mouth diseaese preceding LSD manifestations as reported by Salem (1989) cularly in a dose rate of 1 ml/10kg body weight, 10 ml Morbidity, mortality and case fatality of the disease were also calculated among examined animals. of levamizole® (levamizole) per animal was also Statistical differences between cattle groups were injected subcutaneously, 20 ml of Novacid® (metamizol) done by using T-test according to Wayne et al (1987).
per animal was injected intravenously twice daily and II-(3)-Pathological examination: Gross, histoparepeated until fever subsided.12 ml of Declofenile® thological and semithin sections examinations of skin (declofenic sodium) per animal was injected intramulesions were done.Histopathological sections were scularly once daily and repeated until fever subsided.carried out by fixing of skin biopsy of living animals The complications of LSD were treated and result of and skin samples of died animals in 10% neutral treatment was recorded in table (3).buffered formalin solution.The fixed specimens were

trimmed, washed and dehydrated in ascending grades of alcohol, cleaned in xylene, embedded in paraffin
In this study, lumpy skin disease virus causes then sectioned (4-6 micron) and stained with hematoinapparent to severe disease in cattle.All ages of cattle xyline and eosin according to Bancroft et. al., (1996).were affected, but young calves were more severely Semithin sections were carried out by fixing in 5% affected.The severity of the disease as measured by glutaraldehyde then possessed for sectioning by ultra number of lumps and occurrence of complications, depends on the dose of the inoculum as well as the microtome in thickness of 1 micron.The sections were susceptibility of the host and the density of insect stained by Toluidine blue according to Bancroft et.
population.Results of different investigations are al., (1996).The samples were prepared in electron illustrated in the following: microscope unite of VACSERA company.

1-Results of clinical examination: II-(4)-Treatments trials for LSD infected cattle and its complications:
The following drugs were The infected animals were classified according used to treat LSD infected cattle and to ease its to the severity of clinical status into: complications and secondary bacterial infections. (I) Mild form: It was only observed in Egyptian native cattle which, appeared as one or two lumps.These medicines were applied as a symptomatic Some cases showed detached lumps leaving ulcer.The treatment and our main target was to save the animal T-test (P-value) for LSD infected cattle was: for native and frezian cattle = 0.037 (statistical significant difference), for male and female cattle = 0.045 (statistical significant difference) and for up to 2 years and 4.5 years or more = 0.07 (no statistical significant difference) hair stands erected over early skin lesions.Generally and testis were present.Healing of skin ulcers by scar tissue were observed after 4 months .within 2 days after onset of the fever, swellings or Drop in milk production, lumps on teats and nodules 1 to 5 cm in diameter appears in the skin and virus localization was occurred.Depression, anorexia, udder was observed.Red (bloody) colostrum was excessive salivation, oculonasal discharge, agalactia, observed in two, 7 months pregnant cows at day of and emaciation were also noticed.Nodular lesions delivery which lasted for 3 days.Newly born calves were seen on the animal body especially in the skin of from LSD infected cows were weak and died soon the muzzle, nares, back, legs, scrotum, perineum, after birth.Cachexia and emaciation of infected animals eyelids, lower ear, nasal and oral mucosa, and tail.The were prominent and lasted for 2 months.Recovered nodules were painful and hyperemic.
animals need long time (2-4 months) to get back its (II) Severe form: The severe form was recorded in body condition.Incidence of different complications all ages and both sex in Frezian cattle and some of the were illustrated in table(2-A).Some of the examined native cattle which firstly suffered from fever (40.5C°animals were showing signs of urticaria (5 cattle) that 40.5C°) that persisted for 7-12 days.Intradermal might be confused with LSD infected animals.These lumps of variable numbers (up to hundreds) were animals proved to be free from LSD infection and detected (Fig- 1).. Variable sized lumps covered whole were differentiated as illustrated in table(2-B).animal body.Subcutaneous and intra-muscular 2-Results of epidemiological studies: nodules were also observed.Keratitis (unilateral or Effect of breed, sex and age of infected animals bilateral) was also seen.Swelling of brisket, were studied.Detected difference between these umbilicus, face and one or four legs was observed.variants were statistically evaluated according to This swelling ruptured oozing pus.Big ulcer behind Wayne et al (1987).The results are illustrated in tables ( 1 ).knee joint was common.Recumbency was rare, 3-Results of pathological findings: 3-A-Gross pathological changes: Grossly lumpy usually in weak and old animal and a low incidence of skin lesions appeared as nodules 1 to 7 cm in diameter abortion was also recorded.Moreover, Frezian cattle and occurred anywhere on the animal body.The hair showed high incidence of scab formation after rupturing of nodules.Secondary bacterial infection were standing erected over early skin lesions.The retarded healing and recovery.Superficial lymph nodules involved the epidermis, dermis, and nodes were swollen, nasal discharge and respiratory subcutaneous tissue and may even spread to the manifestations were also noticed.
musculature.As the disease progresses, the nodules Ulcers arised from detached skin nodules with became necrotic, and eventually a deep scab was eroded blood vessels and in nerves, tendons, joints formed; this lesion is called a sitfast.

3-B-Histopathological findings:
Histopathological viral disease of cattle characterized by skin nodules examinations of lumpy skin disease revealed that may have inverted conical necrosis (sitfast) with lymphadenitis accompanied by a persistent fever.The ballooning degeneration of stratum spinosum with LSDV is very closely related serologically to the virus microvesicles formation.Eosinophilic intracytoof sheep and goat pox (SGP) from which it cannot be plasmic inclusion bodies were also noticed (Fig- 2).
distinguished by routine virus neutralization or other The vesicles were filled with serofibrinous exudates.
serological tests, Burdin (1959) and Tuppurainen et al The epidermal layer showed focal areas of liqufactive (2005).The LSDV is very resistant to physical and necrosis and infiltrated with large number of neutrophils, chemical agents.The virus persists in necrotic skin for lymphocytes and macrophages.The dermal layer showed at least 33 days and remains viable in lesions in airnecrosis with massive infiltration of inflammatory dried hides for at least 18 days at ambient temperature cells mainly neutrophils.Vasculitis of dermal blood Shimshony, (1989).vessels which appeared as thickening of it's wall and LSD outbreak was recorded in Egypt after surrounded by large number of inflammatory cells importation of cattle from African countries in 2006.were seen.The lesions was extended to subcutaneous Two clinical forms of LSD were recorded among tissue and associated with Zenker's necrosis of muscular Egyptian cattle in this study mild and severe.The layer.Semithin section of dermal layer revealed vasculitis severity of the disease depends on the dose of the with projection of endothelial lining to the lumen of the inoculum as well as the susceptibility of the host and vessels.Focal aggregation of inflammatory cells was the route of exposure as reported by Davies (1981).In seen around the blood vessels.The dermal stoma was this study, mild form of LSD was only observed in infiltrated with mixture of red blood cells, lymphocytes, native cattle which was characterized clinically by few neutrophils and macrophages containing intracytonumber of nodules while the severe form was present plasmic inclusion bodies specific to LSD virus infection.
in frezian cattle and some the natives.4-Results of treatment trials: These were It appeared that our native breeds examined in illustrated in table (3).
this study have less susceptibility to the disease than

Discussion
frezian cattle.This come in agreement with the findings of Capstick et al(1959).Animals suffered mild form, Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an acute to chronic  Egyptian cattle were the same 1.8% ,which were in the presented in table (2), which is supported by Davies usual range of LSD (1-5%) that was mentioned Diesel (1981) who mentioned that LSD morbidity rates may reach 80-90% under certain circumstances.
(1949) and Haig (1957).Skin nodules have Although LSD virus is genetically and antigeni-congestion, hemorrhage, edema, and vasculitis with cally related to sheep pox virus (Bhanuprakash et al , consequent necrosis and involve all layers of the 2006), sheep pox virus vaccine could not protect epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, and often vaccinated Egyptian cattle against LSD where the adjacent musculature.Lymph nodes draining affected high morbidity ratio of LSD in Egyptian cattle could areas were enlarged up to 10 times normal size with be attributed to failure of sheep pox vaccine against extensive lymphoid proliferation, edema, congestion, LSD due to low injecting dose of the vaccine or this and hemorrhage.These findings coincided by Burdin LSD outbreak virus is more virulent to overcome the (1959), Haig (1957), Prozesky and Barnard (1982), weak immune response of the used vaccine Capstick et and Weiss (1968).al, (1959).Use of sheep pox vaccine for control of As shown in table (2-A), the complications of LSD LSD is recommended by Kitching (2003) because it were several and involving corneal opacity (Keratitis), gives reasonable immunity against LSD and also is recumbency, mastitis, cellulitis and phligmone, cheaper.It is worthy to mention that Egyptian cattle myiasis, abortion, dysentry, lameness, pneumonia.were previously exposed to Strain-A of aphtho-virus These complications resulted from damage of skin or of foot and mouth disease that was introduced to Egypt mucous membranes that were followed by secondary with African imported cattle for the first time as exotic bacterial invasion in addition to stress induced disease in 2006.Morbidity rate of that strain was immunosuppression, anorexia, persistent fever and 100%, consequently immune suppression of all severe deblitation.All of that facilitate bacterial infected cattle could be hypothesized.
invasion of infected animal tissues to cause mastitis, Seasonal occurrence of LSD outbreak was corneal opacity, phelgmone, dysentry and pneumonia.recorded in summer season.Insects are playing very Myiasis was resulted from flies attack which deposit important role in the transmission of LSD virus that their eggs in eroded or ulcerated skin areas, later on was mentioned by Mac Owen (1959) and Davies these eggs hatched producing very active larvae which (1981).It was thought that introduction of more fed on tissue exudate and caused myiasis.virulent strain of LSD virus, sheep pox vaccination Recumbency resulted as LSD is deblitating disease failure in cattle, dense insects caused cachexia and weakness and needed long time and foot and mouth disease (strain-A) outbreak for recovery.Abortion was thought to be as result of preceding LSD outbreak were gathering and high persistent fever not due to LSD virus attacking enhancing the high morbidity (100%) Capstick et fetal membranes or tissues as indicated by absence of al (1959).The severity of LSD and its complication specific LSD lesions in newly borns and aborted foeti population (Chihota et al , 2003) as well as the percentage of abortion was very low (0.4%).Lamness was also observed due to presence of intradermal or intra-muscular LSD nodules or swellings beside joints and also due to phelgmone or cellulitis.Dysentry, diarrhea tinged with blood was observed in calves due to presence of LSD nodules in intestinal mucosa that detached and invaded by bacteria leading to haemorrhagic enteritis.Pneumonia was also resulted from bacterial inavsion of eroded areas in bronchial and tracheal mucosa.These findings agreed with that reported by Davies (1991).
As presented in table (2-B), urticaria (due to insect biting) was observed among cattle which confusing farmers with LSD (Pseudo-urticaria) , both are of seasonal incidence which is summer months and developing skin lumps or swellings that was described by Shimshony (1989).Differentiation of both were depending on spontaneous recovery of urticaria within few hours and rapid response to therapy by calcium (Cal-D-Mag) and anti-histaminic injections that did not cure LSD in addition to long duration of fever and delayed recovery of LSD up to 4 months, we can reach the correct final diagnosis.
It is very important to know that prevention of LSD disease is more beneficial than its treatment to avoid high economical losses due to hide damage, loss of milk due to mastitis and loss of animal products due to deaths, abortion, fever and myiasis.So from our point of view , evaluating sheep pox vaccine as LSD vaccine to use the immunogenic and protective dose in cattle, stopping importation of african cattle from endemic areas and eradicating insects will prevent reoccurrence of that disastrous outbreak of LSD in Egypt.

1)-Clinical examinations, observations of
African countries.The diseases reappeared in Egypt at

lesions and complications in diseased animals:
disease outbreak: Effect of breed, sex and age of life and to prevent LSD complications.Terramycin® long acting (oxytetracycline) was injected intramus-infected animals were studied in all infected animal.