Abstract
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly contagious transboundary animal disease caused by the Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), a member of the Capripoxvirus genus within the Poxviridae family. This study examined sporadic cases of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle from India, spanning September 2023 to December 2024 and explored the gross-morphological, histopathological and molecular diagnosis of Lumpy Skin Disease. Affected cattle exhibited multiple cutaneous nodules of varying sizes (2-5 cm) on the head, neck, limbs, udder and other body parts. Post-mortem examination revealed significant thickening of the epidermis, extending into the dermis and involving subcutaneous and muscular layers. Histopathological analysis demonstrated characteristic features, including ballooning degeneration, microvesicle formation and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies. Molecular diagnostics using PCR assays confirmed the presence of LSDV in tested cases, successfully amplifying the P32 antigen gene. These findings enhance our understanding of LSD pathology and highlight the importance of molecular techniques for accurate disease confirmation.
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