# Epidemiological Study and Molecular Characterization of Lumpy Skin Disease in Cattle in Egypt

## TL;DR

This study investigates the spread and genetic features of lumpy skin disease in Egyptian cattle, identifying risk factors and a potential diagnostic tool.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into LSDV epidemiology and a molecular marker for differentiating infected and vaccinated animals.

## Key findings

- LSDV outbreaks in Egypt showed significant predictors including animal age, grazing system, and lack of quarantine for new animals.
- PCR testing confirmed LSDV in 95.65% of samples, revealing a 27-nucleotide insertion and 11 nucleotide substitutions compared to a vaccine strain.
- Field isolates showed high similarity to virulent LSDV strains from Egypt, India, and Austria, supporting a DIVA strategy for diagnostics.

## Abstract

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) constitutes one of the most significant poxvirus infections impacting livestock and has a high morbidity rate and a comparatively low mortality rate. This study was designed to elucidate the epidemiology and the molecular analysis of LSDV using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the extracellular enveloped viral (EEV) glycoprotein gene. Out of 470, 167 cows from 10 herds exhibited typical signs of LSD in four governorates in Egypt (Al‐Sharkia, Al‐Ismailia, Al‐Menofia, and Al‐Beheira) during recent outbreak in summer 2025. The morbidity, mortality rate, and case fatality rates were 35.53% (167/470), 5.32% (25/470), and 14.97% (25/167), respectively. The univariable logistic regression result demonstrated that age of the animal, grazing system, water source, and introduction of new animals without quarantine were significant predictors for the outbreak of LSD. Vaccination of the animals with using fly repellent was recommended to control the disease. Sixty‐nine out of 82 (84.1%) developed pock lesions on chorioallantoic membrane, while 75 out of 82 (91.46%) had cytopathic effects on Madin‐Darby Bovine Kidney cell line. Twenty‐two out of 23 (95.65%) samples tested positive for PCR at 958 base pair. The partial sequence of 3 samples and ARRIAH LSD VAC was translated into amino acids revealing a distinct 27‐nucleotide insertion with substitution of 11 nucleotides when compared to ARRIAH LSD VAC; consequently, there was a variation in more than 10 amino acids. The field isolates presented single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 54 G (ZAG‐LSD3)/A (ISM‐LSD1 and MNF‐LSD2), exhibiting a high degree of nucleotide similarity with a virulent strain from Egypt, India, and Austria. Furthermore, the partial sequence of the EEV glycoprotein gene possesses the capacity to implement the differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA) strategy when utilized alongside the ARRIAH LSD VAC, which has recently been employed in Egypt.