India has broad amenity of livestock that plays a vital role to upgrade the socio- economic growth of rural families. Livestock also faces various diseases that may affect the whole industry, cattle farmers & their source of income significantly. Among these diseases, Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is most fatal viral disease causes huge economic losses in the Cattle farming. This infection is caused by Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). Lumpy skin disease virus belongs to the family Poxviridae, subfamily Chordopoxvirniae & genus Capripoxvirus. Other names of this infection are "Pseudo urticaria", "Neethling virus disease", "exanthema nodularisbovis" & "knopvelsiekte" (Al-Salihi, 2014; Tuppurainen et al., 2017). LSD is a non-zoonotic, hazardous and fatal disease of cattle identified by nodules on the skin, The vector responsible for this vector-borne disease includes the blood sucking arthropods i.e., flies, mosquitos and ticks (Lubinga et al., 2013). The assorted blood-feeding arthopodsare responsible for the spread of LSD that includes biting flies, mosquitoes & ticks (Khan et al., 2024). This infectious disease mainly affects the Cattle & buffaloes but also reported in wild ruminant spp. Like giraffes, bulls, and springboks (Davies, 1991; Das et al., 2021; Roche et al., 2021). Lumpy skin disease is accompanied with high morbidity but low mortality (Abutarbush et al., 2015). The disease is marked by Fever, Lymph node swelling, nodules on the skin causing severe skinniness, milk production lessen, infertility in female Cattles. In general, it affects the productive value of livestock as it affects the milk production and meat production, lessen the reproductive efficiency (abortion and. infertility in females) (Gupta et al., 2020). Skin lesions are the major symptom of the infection; although the virus is also Expel out via body secretions such as in semen. Lumpy skin disease lesions may Triggered from 7 to 14 days post infection under experimental conditions (Mulatu and Feyisa 2018). The disease was endemic in African countries since it was first recognised in Rhodesia (Zambia) in 1929, and has spread to other regions of the world (Morris, 1931). The report of Food and Agriculture states that, the disease first identified in South Asia in July 2019, with outburst reported China and Bangladesh (Roche et al., 2021). Due to Lumpy skin disease, deaths of cows in a large number have broken the backbone of dairy industry (Choudhary, 2023). A month later, it was first time identified in India in the states of Odisha and West Bengal, which designate that it is a cross-boundary disease. Periodical cases come into sight after 2019 up to 2021 such that in the middle of the year 2022, In India, the maximum number of cases from the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan followed by Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir (ICAR report, 2023). Lumpy skin disease (LSD) created destruction in the dairy industry of the northern states of India in the previous year (ICARATARI, 2023). In Himachal Pradesh. The outburst of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) reported in the year of 2022. This infectious disease affected thousands of the Himalayan Cattles and yaks (Sudhakar et al., 2024). From the Himachal Pradesh, maximum number of cases Were from the district Kangra (the most affected district), Sirmaur, Solan, Una. The animal husbandry of Himachal Pradesh worked to prevent the outburst of lumpy skin disease by providing free vaccines, advised farmers not to buy or sell animals during endemic and many more guidelines issued by the government. 

Fig. 1. Severe cases with Skin lesions covering the whole body.

Fig. 2. Lesions present over the head and neck regions of cattle.

Fig. 3. Lesions on the udder and teat.

This study aimed to explore and enumerate the socio-economic impact of LSD on the farm households and their awareness regarding the disease, its previous outburst, and control measures.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF LUMPY SKIN DISEASE (LSD)  

A. Epidemiology 

Lumpy skin disease is a transboundary, vector-borne, seldom fatal disease that causes economic losses in cattle farming. Epidemiology of LSD consists its distribution, vector, risk factors, susceptible animals, control measures & preventions. Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is more chiefly occur in the summer & autumn months and in the low land areas (OIE, 2010). 

(i) Geographical distribution of LSD. The first clinical signs of LSD Was found in 1929 in Zambia (Northern Rhodesia) (Morris, 1931). The infection of LSD outburst in Sub-Saharan, firstly reported in Egypt and then in Israel (Ali et al., 2012; Tuppurainen & Oura 2012). It has been identified that the infection also marked in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey. After many years this infectious disease spread to Russia, Azerbaijan, Greece, Kosovo, and Serbia (Zeynalova et al., 2016). In 2020, LSD was seen in Asian Continents as a major threat to livestock. Then outburst reported in Bangladesh in July month of 2019 (Hasib et al., 2021; Parvin et al., 2022). Many countries boarded with Southeast Asia so the infection can easily transmit from infected area to non-infected area. In Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the outbreaks have been reported in 2020 (Gupta et al., 2020; Tuppurainen & Oura 2012). The first case of the infection in India was reported in August 2019.  

Fig. 4. Geographic distribution of Lumpy skin disease.

(ii) Susceptible Animals. Lumpy Skin Disease is primarily affected the Cattles & water buffaloes, especially European Skinniness breeds (More susceptible) (Brenner et al., 2006). LSD has been identified in domestic Asian buffaloes & Arabian Oryx. Young calves are more prone to this infection and may develop the lesions within 24 to 48 hours (Al-Salihi, 2014). 

(iii) Source of LSD infection. Lumpy skin disease is transmitted from clinically infected animals to non- infected animals. LSDV can be present in the blood, saliva, lesions & different fluid secretions of body for instance, nasal discharge, lachrymal secretions, milk, semen, which is the main source for transmission of LSD infection (Irons et al., 2005; Babiuk et al., 2008; Abera et al., 2015). 

(iv) Threats. LSD is a most fatal viral infection of cattle and causes many disorders. Though all the cattle are susceptible to this infection but Bos Taurus is predominantly more susceptible to LSD than other breeds of cattle (Radostits et al., 2007). Milk producing Cattles also affected results intense drop in the milk production because of fever caused by this viral disease (Tuppurainen & Oura 2012). It is more widespread during wet & warmer conditions of summer and autumn months and occurs in low lying regions (OIE, 2010). Others reasons of cattle movement from one region to another, this may Transmitted the infection to all other non-infected areas.

B. Mode of transmission and Pathogenesis

(i) Direct transmission. Direct transmission can occur in Cattles via different routes when the cattle share the same fodder rack & drinking container that is infected by nasal, salivary discharges, semen, lacrimal secretions. It is also believed that arthopod vector is the main route of its transmission (Lefèvre and Gourreau 2010). Suckling calves may be infected through sucking the infected milk of mother. The virus is also Expel out Via different body secretions like semen. Through semen, the transmission of LSDV has been demonstrated experimentally (Annandale et al., 2013). There is a postulation that, the virus is also secreted in vaginal secretions. The infection has been presumed to be transmitted from mother milk to calf (Tuppurainen et al., 2017). Another route of spread of this virus when single needle used for vaccination again & again that can acquire the infection from the skin crusts (Mulatu & Feysia 2018).  

(ii) Role of vectors. The virus predominantly transmitted by arthropod vectors, for instance common biting flies (Stomoxys and Biomjie), mosquitoes (Aedes and Culex) and some ticks (Rhiphicephalus appendiculatus and Ambylom mahebraem) are chiefly responsible for its widespread. 

Fig. 7. Ticks.

The multiplication of vectors during the monsoon months causes faster spread of the infection. 

Glossina spp. Like tsetse fly, other arthropod vector that play a significant role in the transmission of the virus. 

C. Pathogenesis  

Lumpy skin disease virus enters the host's body through the cutaneous membrane or the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. The virus then Enlarge the lymph node, resulting in lymphadenitis. The virus then causes the skin lesions due to its rapid replication in Lymphatic endothelial cells resulting in the formation of nodules on the skin, that are of grey-pink. (Vorster, 2008).  

D. Clinical symptoms 

The signs & symptoms are following: 

Nasal discharge & Lachrymal secretion are generally the first sign of infection, High fever which may be last for a week, Milk production lessen, Nodular skin lesion with size 10 to 50mm found in head, neck, genitalia, udder, teat, in few severe cases, painful ulcer lesions formed over the corneas of one or both eyes, Pregnant cows may abort or leads to infertility (Al-Sahili, 2014). 

E. Diagnosis 

Diagnosis can be done by two ways:  

1. Field Diagnosis: field diagnosis of LSD can be based upon the: contagious disease with skin lesions, conical necrosis of skin nodules, enlargement of lymph nodes, chronic fever, low mortality, pox may be present in the testicles (Al-Sahili, 2014). 

2. Laboratory Diagnosis: A confirmative diagnosis of lumpy skin disease can be based on laboratory investigation. this involves various methods such as isolation of the virus, electron microscopy, agar gel immunodiffusion, ELISA, PCR, Fluorescent antibody tests (Al-Sahili, 2014; Carn et al., 1994). 

F. Treatment  

There is no particular treatment for lumpy skin disease, Infected cattle may be quarantine & isolated from the others, and given the general treatment like wound dressing to eliminate flies around the infected cattle and prevent the infection. various combination of anti-microbials, antibiotics & sulfonamides is recommended as preventive measures (Tuppurainen & Oura 2012). 

G. Preventions & Controls  

∙ Movement of infected cattle with LSD should be restricted to prevent the further infection to other non-infected animals

∙ Restrict the vectors, various vector control methods are present such as Insecticides, vector traps etc can be used to prevent the infection.

∙ Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure of LSD, live attenuated is available for lumpy skin disease.

∙ Calves should be immunized at the age of 3 to 4 months (Tuppurainen et al., 2012).

H. Economic impacts of LSD  

Lumpy skin disease is one of the most economically significant viral disease in the world, that causes the severe losses in the cattle industry. The economic importance of this disease is due to the fact that it has high morbidity rate rather than mortality. Direct losses of LSD include animal death, infertility in females, reduced milk productivity, which ultimately causes the huge damage to whole cattle industry & the livelihood of the farmers.