Lumpy skin disease, an African capripox virus disease of cattle.

Lumpy skin disease is an infectious viral disease of cattle, which often occurs in epizootic form. The disease is characterized by the eruption of nodules in the skin, which may cover the whole of the animal's body. Systemic effects include pyrexia, anorexia, dysgalactia and pneumonia; lesions are often found in the mouth and upper respiratory tract. The severity of the disease varies considerably between breeds and strains of cattle. Many cattle suffer severe emaciation and loss of production for several months. The skin lesions cause permanent damage to the hides. The mode of transmission of the disease has not been clearly established. Contact infections do not readily occur and the evidence from the epizootiology strongly suggests that insect vectors are involved. The disease has been confined to sub-Saharan Africa, until it recently appeared in epizootic form in Egypt and in Israel. Transmission occurs in a wide variety of biotypes, from semi-desert to temperate grasslands and irrigated land. It has the potential to extend its range further.