Clinical, Haemato-Biochemical Alterations and Therapeutic Regimens in Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) Affected Cattle in Maharashtra State, India

Abstract This study reports the analysis of clinical signs, haemato-biochemical alterations, and various therapeutic protocols followed in the treatment of 439 cases of lumpy skin disease (LSD) affected cattle in Akola and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra state, India from August 2020 to October 2020. LSD was diagnosed based on the characteristic clinical signs such as fever, raised, circular, firm, nodules on the skin, swelling on legs, edema with moderate lymphadenopathy, lameness and cellulitis, etc. as per the guidelines given in the OIE manual with Laboratory confirmation of 5 cases at High-Security Animal Disease Laboratory (NIHSAD), Bhopal through Regional Disease Investigation Laboratory, Department of Animal Husbandry, Akola. Out of 439 cases, 427 (97.27%) were cattle and 12 (2.73%) were buffaloes, indicating higher susceptibility of cattle than buffaloes with 88.61% females and 11.39% males among all affected animals. The current study revealed higher susceptibility in 372 (84.74%) crossbred animals followed by 67 (15.26%) non-descript cattle. Animals in the age group of 1-5 years were highly affected (58.54%) followed by animals above the age of 5 years (34.85%) and least in cattle aged below 1 year (6.61%). It was also observed that lactating animals were affected more (35.77%) than pregnant animals (23.58%). Treatment with Enrofloxacin along with antihistaminics, NSAIDs, and Vit B-complex for 3-10 days depending upon the severity of cases was the most cost-effective as compared to other treatment protocols.