Lumpy skin disease

LYMPY SKIN DISEASE
  • LSD is a pox disease of cattle characterised by fever, nodules on the skin, mucous membranes and internal organs, emaciation, enlarged lymph nodes, oedema of the skin, and sometimes death. The disease is of economic importance because it causes reduced production, particularly in dairy herds. It also causes damage to the hide.
  • The symptoms appear as fever 104 to 107o F (40-41.5o C), which lasts up to 4 weeks. Generally within 2 days after the appearance of the fever, swellings or nodules 1 to 5 cm in diameter appear in the skin and generalization occurs. Depression, anorexia, excessive salivation, oculonasal discharge, agalactia, and emaciation are presented. Nodules 1 to 7 cm in diameter may occur anywhere on the body but especially in the skin of the muzzle, nares, back, legs, scrotum, perineum, eyelids, lower ear, nasal and oral mucosa, and tail. The hair stands erect over early skin lesions. The nodules are painful and involve the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue and may even involve the musculature. As the disease progresses, the nodules become necrotic, and eventually a deep scab forms; this lesion is called a sitfast. Secondary bacterial infection can complicate healing and recovery. Lesions on the teats can result in severe secondary bacterial infection with loss of the quarter owing to mastitis.
  • Skin nodules have congestion, hemorrhage, edema, and vasculitis with consequent necrosis and involve all layers of the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, and often adjacent musculature. Lymph nodes draining affected areas are enlarged up to 10 times normal size with extensive lymphoid proliferation, edema, congestion, and hemorrhage. Mucous membranes of the oral and nasal cavities can have pox lesions that coalesce in severe cases. Pox lesions may occur in the pharynx, epiglottis, and trachea. Synovitis and tendosynovitis with fibrin in the synovial fluid can occur. Pox lesions can be present in the testicles and urinary bladder. Pox lesions are not easily visualized in the lungs but appear as focal areas of atelectasis and edema. In severe cases, pleuritis can occur with enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes.
Last modified: Saturday, 3 December 2011, 5:55 AM