Epidemiology and Financial Loss Of LSD in Cattle Farming of Ethiopia

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is issue of food security as it is economically shocking viral diseases which cause several financial problems in livestock industries. Currently, lumpy skin disease is a great threat to Africa and Middle East. In Ethiopia, there are frequent outbreak reports of the disease in different cattle producing areas. Economic damage of the disease in cattle is comparable to that caused by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Morbidity rates of the disease ranged 80 to 90 percent and mortality rates as high as 40 percent or more have been encountered in different situations. Severe and permanent damage to hides results from skin lesions. Epidemiology of LSD is acute infectious disease, affects cattle of all ages and breeds. It is spread by biting insects. It is characterized by fever, nodules on skin, mucous membranes and internal organs, emaciation, enlarged lymph nodes, oedema of skin, and sometimes death. Major risk factors associated with occurrence of the disease are herd size, communal grazing and watering points, wet seasons of the year and introduction of new animal to the herd. LSD can be controlled through annual vaccination of cattle in affected areas.