Choroba guzowatej skóry bydła

This review aims to summarize the latest development in the epidemiology, pathology, clinic and control of lumpy skin disease (LSD), with the focus on its transboundary spread, possible emergence and economic implications for on cattle production. This notifiable disease is endemic in African and Middle East countries but has started spreading to Asia and south-east Europe, affecting Greece and Bulgaria and countries in the Balkans. Lumpy skin disease is mainly transmitted to infection-free areas by transport of infected animals and by virus vectors, as blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks. There is also growing importance of the spread of wildlife, the potential reservoirs of the disease. Generally, fever, anorexia, hypersalivation, lacrimation and characteristic eruptions with painful nodules within the skin, on the muzzle and within the nasal and buccal mucous membranes, on the udder, on genital and rectal mucous membranes. The severe drop in milk production, also abortions, infertility and sometimes death are the clinical manifestations of the disease in a herd. Although the mortality rate is usually less than 10%, the disease morbidity rate can be as high as 100%. The economic significance of LSD is of great concern, given that it threatens international trade and could be used as bioterrorism weapon. Vaccination, strict quarantine measures, limited movement of livestock along with vectors control could be effective for preventing the spread of the disease. Homologous vaccines are more effective than sheeppox virus strain vaccines.