Clinicopathological Study of Lumpy Skin Disease in Cattle from Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Since its emergence in Bangladesh in 2019, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has become a significant concern for the cattle industry, underscoring the critical need for robust surveillance systems and effective control measures to safeguard animal health and minimize economic losses. LSD is a transboundary viral disease of cattle caused by the Neethling virus, a member of the Poxviridae family. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of LSD and conduct histopathological assessments based on clinical observations across several cattle farms within Mymensingh municipality, particularly in Trishal upazila. The investigation was conducted from July 10, 2020, to June 20, 2021. A structured questionnaire was used to collect epidemiological data from smallholder cattle farms, with a total of 455 cattle clinically examined. Additionally, 30 skin nodule samples were collected for histopathological evaluation. Case identification was based on the clinical criteria outlined by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE), and data analysis was carried out using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. The overall prevalence of LSD in the studied area was 49.01%. Sex-wise analysis revealed infection rates of 41.66% in males and 42.45% in females. Seasonal distribution showed the highest prevalence during the summer (55.63%), followed by the rainy (41.07%) and winter seasons (18%). Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found among local breeds, younger animals (calves), and during the summer season, indicating increased susceptibility in these groups. Clinically, affected animals exhibited characteristic signs, including high fever (up to 41°C), enlarged lymph nodes, formation of firm cutaneous nodules (1–5 cm in diameter), ocular and nasal discharge, lacrimation, anorexia, limb swelling, reduced milk production, and, in some cases, abortion. Histopathological examination of nodular lesions revealed typical features such as eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, ballooning degeneration, epidermal vacuolation with granulocyte swelling, hydropic degeneration, epidermal hyperplasia, and infiltration by inflammatory cells. The various breeds with seasonal variation in severity. These outcomes underscore the necessity findings confirm that LSD is an endemic and increasingly problematic disease in Trishal Upazila, affectifor comprehensive virological studies, including virus isolation, molecular identification, and genomic analysis of LSDV across the country to develop effective disease control measures.