Molecular Epidemiology of First Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreak in Odisha, India

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is the causative agent of lumpy skin disease (LSD) which is a member of Capripoxvirus. It is an economically critical transboundary disease affecting cattle. This study records the first LSD incidence in cattle of Ganjam district and analyses data from LSD outbreak in August 2020 on epidemiological and genetic characterization. Out of 452 animals clinically examined (59 farms), 63 animals were clinically affected with LSD, with a total morbidity rate of 13.93%. The morbidity rates in the villages (ten villages) varied from 5.55 to 21.62%. The multivariable logistic regression showed that grazing of animals ( P =0.023; OR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.09-3.32), and lactation and pregnancy status of animals ( P =0.007; OR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.32-6.17) were the potential risk factors for the occurrence of lumpy skin disease. Out of 53 clinically suspected animals collected from Ganjam district of Odisha, 18 samples (33.96%) were found positive by PCR for both P32 and F genes of capripox virus. Phylogenetic analysis of P32 gene of LSD (MW147486) showed 100% similarity with other isolates from India, Bangladesh, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of F gene of LSD (MW147485) revealed a similarity of 97.99 %, 97.36%, and 96.60% with, Odisha India (MT074110), Beni Suif Egypt (MN694826) and Marsa Matrouh Egypt (MN699855), respectively.