empres watch VOL 29 November 2013 [email protected] | www.fao.org/ag/empres.html Emergence of lumpy skin disease in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin countries Contributors: Sherrylin Wainwright a, Ahmed El Idrissi a, Raffaele Mattioli a, Markos Tibbo b, Felix Njeumi a, Eran Raizman a a Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); b FAO Regional Office for the Near East (FAO-RNE) Animal Health (OIE). considering the area’s substantial livestock Contents LSD was first reported in Africa, where it population. Turkey maintains over 11.3 million crippled the production potential of cattle and heads of cattle. Iraq, Lebanon and the Syrian 1. Introduction 1 compromised vulnerable livelihoods on the Arab Republic maintain 2.8 million heads, continent. LSD moved beyond Africa in 1989 and the Islamic Republic of Iran maintains 2. Risk assessment 3 when Israel confirmed its first LSD outbreak. for approximately 8.5 million heads. Armenia, In subsequent years Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Azerbaijan and Georgia combined maintain 3. Risk management Yemen and the West Bank also reported LSD 4million heads. options for at-risk incursion. Lebanon and Jordan joined LSD- At-risk countries include the Russian affected countries in 2012 and 2013, and Federation to the north and Bulgaria and countries 4 most recently Turkey reported the disease in Greece to the west. This is in line with the 4. Conclusions 5 October 2013 (see Table 1). spread of other significant transboundary There is an imminent risk that LSD will animal diseases (e.g. African swine fever, 5. References 5 (or has already) become endemic in some foot-and-mouth disease, sheep pox and goat countries in the Middle East. Although LSD pox) in the region. Moreover, capripoxviruses has not been reported in the Syrian Arab could be considered emerging disease 1. Introduction Republic – most likely due to the current threats because of global climate change and armed conflict – the disease probably alterations to the trade patterns of animals 1.1 Occurrence of lumpy skin travelled through the Syrian Arab Republic to and animal products. 2 disease in Middle East Turkey. LSD may also be in Iraq. Furthermore, umpy skin disease (LSD) is caused the situation raises concerns that the disease 1.2 Epidemiology by the lumpy skin disease virus may continue spreading: i) north and west The morbidity rate for LSD ranges from 5 to L (i.e. capripoxvirus, poxviridae). The from Turkey into Europe and the Caucasus; 45 percent depending on the: i) distribution virus mainly affects cattle and Asian and ii) east to Central and South Asia. and abundance of insect vectors; ii) breed water buffaloes. LSD can cause devastating LSD shows significant potential for of cattle affected; and iii) general health and economic impacts. 1 New outbreaks of LSD major socio-economic impacts should it nutritional status of the animals in question. in previously free regions require immediate continue spreading: i) throughout newly Occasional mortality rates from 10 to beyond notification under the Terrestrial Animal affected countries; and ii) into their LSD- 40 percent have been reported, but the rate of Health Code of the World Organisation for free neighbours. This is especially alarming 1 to 5 percent is considered more usual. Table 1. LSD outbreaks, as reported to OIE* Countries 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Bahrain present present 0 present 0 0 0 0 Egypt present 0 0 0 0 0 present present Israel present present 0 0 0 0 present present Jordan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 present Lebanon 0 0 0 0 0 0 present present Oman present 0 0 present present present present 0 West Bank present present present 0 0 0 0 present Turkey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 present * 0 = country reported zero cases for that year to OIE; present = country reported disease present that year to OIE VOL 29 NOVEMBER 2013 | empres watch 1.3 Transmission 1.5 Diagnosis RM 65 [Jordan Bio industries Centre, JOVAC] and the Tissue Culture Sheep Different types of biting and blood-feeding The manifestation of LSD may range from Pox Vaccine [Kenyan S/GP 0240, arthropods (including mosquitoes and flies3,4) acute to subclinical (see Table 2). VSVRI, Egypt]). are likely responsible for the mechanical 5 1.6 Virus susceptibility spread of the LSD virus . Disease incidence 1.8 Laboratory is highest in wet/warm weather. Incidence Disinfection is possible using ether decreases during the dry season, which is (20 percent), chloroform, formalin (1 percent) When disease is introduced for the first time, possibly linked to decreases in insect vector and some detergents (e.g. sodium dodecyl a fast and accurate laboratory confirmation occurrence/numbers. Minor sources of sulphate; phenol [2 percent/15 minutes], of the tentative field diagnosis is required infection could include direct and indirect sodium hypochlorite [2–3 percent], before beginning relatively expensive control contact (e.g. through infective-saliva iodine compounds [1:33 dilution], Virkon® and eradication measures. Virus isolation contaminated feed and water). Other [2 percent] and quaternary ammonium and molecular diagnostic tests play an potential transmission routes include the milk compounds [0.5 percent]). 12 important role in monitoring the spread of the of lactating cows and the semen of infected capripoxviruses and controlling outbreaks bulls, since the LSD virus can persist for 1.7 Vaccine in susceptible livestock. However, those extended periods of time in both 6,7. Live, attenuated vaccines are commonly used laboratories which are poorly equipped or against LSD. This is because immunity to located in challenging field environments 1.4 Host susceptibility capripoxviruses is mainly cell mediated and is face difficulties accessing these molecular Susceptibility and eventual disease severity better stimulated by the use of live vaccines. techniques that rely upon expensive depends on the dose and route of virus While effective, live vaccines occasionally equipment. inoculation as well as the health and cause serious side effects (e.g. intense The development of a loop-mediated nutritional status of the affected animal. local reaction at the vaccination site, which isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay Considered at risk are all cattle breeds plus rarely develop into generalized infection and for rapid detection of capripoxviruses has Asian water buffaloes (Bos Bubalis). Bos frequently cause a temporary decrease in milk been shown to be highly specific with no taurus cattle breeds are more susceptible production). Due to cell mediated immunity, apparent cross-reactivity to other related than Bos indicus breeds, and young calves low antibody responses are common after viruses (i.e. near neighbours) or viruses that often experience more severe disease than vaccination with attenuated live vaccines, cause similar clinical signs (i.e. look-a-like adults. Although the incubation period under even though vaccinated animals are fully viruses). When compared to highly sensitive field conditions has not been reported, protected. 13 Inactivated vaccines do not quantitative real-time polymerase chain the onset of fever following inoculation is provide long-term immunity; therefore, annual reaction assay (PCR). LAMP and quantitative, in 6–9 days. The first skin lesions appear booster vaccinations are recommended. real-time PCR exhibited similar analytical at the inoculation site in 4–20 days. 8 No Vaccination has shown to reduce the negative sensitivities. Overall agreement on diagnostic carrier status is recognized in cattle following economic impacts of LSD. 14 test results between the two assays was infection with LSD virus. Live virus can be Vaccines used presently in the Middle East 90–95 percent for specificity and 89–100 detected up to 39 days post-infection in the include: percent for sensitivity. The LAMP assay is dried crust of skin lesions on an infected • homologous live attenuated vaccines simple to use, inexpensive, highly sensitive animal 9 and up to 18 days in scrapings from containing Neethling strain (including and particularly well suited for the diagnosis dried lesions of air-dried hides held at room Lumpy Skin Disease Vaccine for Cattle® of capripox in less well equipped laboratories temperature. 10 The virus may be found in (Onderstepoort Biological Product, and in rural settings where resources are milk of infected animals; therefore, it should South Africa); Lumpyvax®, Intervet, limited. 15 not be used as a supplement for susceptible Namibia; New live vaccine, HerbivacLS® Serological surveys for LSD virus are animals. 11 Deltamune/Ceva Santé Animale, South constrained by the lack of suitable diagnostic Africa); and tools. Unfortunately, there are no sufficiently • sheep pox vaccines produced in the sensitive and validated enzyme-linked region (including Sheep-pox vaccine immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) available Table 2. Typical clinical signs for lumpy skin disease Skin Mucosal lining Pregnant/lactating animals Other clinical signs Disseminated cutaneous Pox lesions may develop Reduction in milk yield by Fever, depression, anorexia, papules (2–5 cm) throughout throughout mucosa linings lactating cattle decreased weight gain and the full thickness of hide; of alimentary and respiratory emaciation necrotic centres (sitfasts), tracts, including nasal which may fall out, creating turbinates, trachea scars and holes in hide Papules most easily seen in Pox lesions on lung with Possible abortions Excessive salivation, rhinitis and hairless areas of perineum, marked generalized interlobular conjunctivitis, which may be udder, inner ear and muzzle, edema, resulting in primary and mucopurulent eyelids secondary pneumonia Enlarged superficial lymph Legs may be edematous; nodes animal reluctant to move Secondary bacterial infections 2 empres watch | VOL 29 NOVEMBER 2013 5. the likely impacts of LSD should for LSD virus. Although reliable, serum/virus pieces of tissue should be collected and movement occur. neutralization tests are labour-intensive and the medium should contain 10 percent Animal health authorities need this crucial time-consuming. This renders them unsuitable glycerol; the central part of the sample assessment in order to plan, implement and for large-scale testing.