Case study of Lumpy Skin disease

Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle. It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks. It causes fever, nodules on the skin and can also lead to death, especially in animals that that have not previously been exposed to the virus. Veterinary doctors are looking for specific treatment of Lumpy skin disease.

Clinical Management of Lumpy Skin Disease

After disaster in african countries, recently Lumpy Skin Disease has hit Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. No specific Treatment of Lumpy Skin Disease is available . 

Lumpy Skin Disease vaccine is essential to inject in healthy animals as a preventive measures. LSD treatment is based upon symptoms but conditioning medicines can provide relief to animals until this disease finishes on its own.

There is no proper treatment for lumpy-skin disease. But some Nonspecific treatment including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and vitamin injections are usually directed to treat the secondary bacterial infections, inflammation and fever, and improving the appetite of the animal. 

The virus is untreatable until,so preventive measures are better than non-proven treatment. Vaccination is the most effective means of control. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories and antibiotics are effective for the treatment of Secondary infections in the skin.

Diagnosis and treatment of Lumpy Skin Disease:

Lumpy Skin Disease can be diagnosed on the basis of history, observation, clinical findings and noduled lesions on the skin of cattle detected by the experienced veterinarians. 

Lumpy skin disease lesions

When First time this disease was diagnosed as lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle. An experimental treatment was done in a calf. 

Calf was provided supportive therapy to prevent the secondary bacterial infections with antibiotics and dressing of the lesions. 

Medicines used in Calf for LSD treatment were Gentamycin at 5 mg/kg by weight intramuscularly for five successive days, chlopheniramine maleate intramuscularly for three consecutive days, meloxicum at 0.2 mg/kg by body weight intramuscularly for two days and multivitamin (B Complex) 3ml intramuscularly for three days were given.

It was observed that body temperature was back to normal in 48 hours and calf sustained feed intake. 

Antibiotic lotion Liq. Betadine was used to clean the skin lesions, a fly repellent and healing cream containing gamma benzene hexachloride were given to apply topically twice daily until the nodules were disappeared. Within three weeks of the treatment the nodules almost disappeared with the scars on skin and reported that calf was fully recovered.

Clinical Management of Lumpy Skin Disease:

A four months old calf with Lumpy Skin Disease was taken for experimental treatment having body weight of approximately 60kg was presented to Mobile Veterinary Clinics, Santipur Block (West Bengal) with a history of nodular growth on different part of the body, reduced appetite, emaciation, nasal discharge and lameness. Clinical examination revealed that there were high body temperatures (105˚F), presence of various sizes of nodules on all over the body, particularly at neck region. Depending upon the history and clinical examination the case was diagnosed as lumpy skin disease (LSD) and accordingly therapy was given. For medical intervention Gentamicin at 5mg/kg body weight intramuscularly, Meloxicum at 0.2mg/kg body weight. intramuscularly, antihistamine, multivitamins and antiseptic dressing of the lesions were given. Animal responded to the treatment and complete recovery was reported within 21 days.