Large scale vaccination has proven to be effective in limiting the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) which has already turned into an epidemic in the country’s cattle farms, particularly in Chittagong.
LSD is a vector borne pox disease of domestic cattle and the Asian water buffalo, characterized by skin nodules.
According to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), out of 107 upazilas in 11 districts of Chittagong division, the LSD outbreak has spread to 102 upazilas.
Statistics show that out of 52,81,068 cattle in Chittagong division, 2,62,535 cattle, including 9,993 calves have been attacked by the disease.
Only 26 cattle including 11 calves died of the disease and the number of abortions among the infected cattle is 43.
Chittagong District Livestock Officer Dr Md Reajul Huq said they have administered goat pox vaccine to 34,000 heads of cattle in Chittagong district and the vaccinated cattle were showing an effective immune system against LSD.
He said: "On September 7 last year, we administered goat pox vaccine on an experimental basis to 68 cattle of Mamata Dairy Farm in Patiya Upazila of Chittagong. We also administered the same vaccine to 167 cattle in National Dairy Farm of Patiya upazila of Chittagong the next day. Within a week, only three cattle were diagnosed with the disease but the rest of the cattle did not show any symptoms of the disease."
"We are distributing posters and leaflets and holding awareness raising meetings with the farmers," Dr Reajul added.
LSD heavily impacts cattle production, milk yields, and animal body condition.
Poor farmers and farm owners face severe economic losses as LSD causes damage to hides, abortion, and infertility.
How LSD was detected in Bangladesh
In April of 2019, the disease was reported for the first time in Bangladesh at a farm in Chittagong’s Karnaphuli Upazila.
A team of experts from the Central Disease Investigation Laboratory (CDIL), the Epidemiology Unit of DLS, and the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), collected samples from the farms of the affected areas and confirmed the virus to be LSD after lab tests.
What is LSD?
LSD is caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), a member of the genus Capripoxvirus (CaPV) within the family Poxviridae.
The LSD virus shares the genus with the sheep pox virus (SPPV) and goat pox virus (GTPV), which are closely related, but phylogenetically distinct.
How does it spread?
The main mode of transmission of LSD between animals is blood feeding insects such as mosquitos and flies that act as mechanical vectors to spread the disease.
In addition to vectors, transmission may occur through consumption of contaminated feed or water, direct contact, natural mating, or artificial insemination.
Clinical signs
The first sign of LSD is lacrimation and nasal discharge. Subscapular and prefemoral lymph nodes become enlarged and are easily palpable.
High fever (>40.50C) may persist for approximately a week. Milk yields of affected cattle drop sharply and nodular skin lesions of 10-50 mm in diameter start to appear on the skin.
Control and prevention of LSD
The best protection comes from prophylactic vaccination of the entire cattle population, carried out well in advance in at-risk areas.
As LSD is a contagious disease, cattle movement inside the country and across borders should be controlled or totally banned in affected areas.
In affected villages, cattle herds should be kept separate from other herds by avoiding communal grazing.
Cattle should be treated regularly with insect repellents to minimize the risk of vector transmission of the disease.