WA Livestock Disease Outlook - for vets

Exotic disease in the spotlight: Lumpy skin disease

Lumpy skin disease is a highly infectious viral disease of cattle and buffalo that is widespread through Africa and the Middle East. In recent years, the disease has advanced into Russia and South-east Europe and in 2019 Bangladesh (July) and China (August) reported their first detection of the disease (see Figure 2, sourced from the WAHIS OIE Interface).

Lumpy skin disease is exotic to Australia and it is important that we continue to test animals with similar signs to the disease to support our disease-free status.

Figure 2: 2019 July to December worldwide distribution of lumpy skin disease. Source: OIE WAHIS Interface

Clinical signs

Clinical signs include a high fever (40-41.5°C) that may last up to three days, watery eyes, increased nasal and pharyngeal secretions, drop in milk production, depression, reluctance to move and enlarged lymph nodes.

Within 1-2 days, firm, raised, oedematous nodules appear below the skin ranging in diameter from 0.5-5cm. Nodules may appear on the head, neck, perineum, genitalia, udder and limbs but may also be seen in the nostrils, mouth and pharynx. There may be ulceration and necrosis of nodules and this can occur throughout the alimentary tract causing respiratory signs to worsen.

Cow with mild disease with nodule on the neck. Source: Lumpy skin disease field manual – A manual for veterinarians, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Multiple nodules on teats and udder of cow with severe disease. Source: Lumpy skin disease field manual – A manual for veterinarians, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Cattle with severe disease with widespread nodules. Source: Lumpy skin disease field manual – A manual for veterinarians, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Images sourced from: Lumpy skin disease field manual, FAO.

Differential diagnoses

Dermatophytosis, urticaria, photosensitisation, dermatophilosis, bovine herpesvirus-2, bovine herpes mammilitis, cutaneous bovine leucosis, pseudocowpox, demodecosis.

What to do if you see signs

Lumpy skin disease is a reportable disease in Australia. If you investigate a disease with these signs, contact your DPIRD vet or the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888.

WA Livestock Disease Outlook highlights benefits of surveillance

Australia’s ability to sell livestock and livestock products depends on evidence from our surveillance systems that we are free of particular livestock diseases. The WA livestock disease outlook – for vets summarises recent significant disease investigations by DPIRD vets and private vets that contribute to that surveillance evidence.

Feedback and subscriptions

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