Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐ is a viral disease that causes lumps on the skin (I know, shocking). This disease is most commonly seen in Africa.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Cattle get this disease!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Lumpy skin disease is caused by a ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ. The exact method of spread is unknown, but it is thought to be spread by biting insects or contact between cattle. The African buffalo is thought to be the ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ, or a host that becomes infected without showing symptoms. These hosts act as a ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐ซ that can introduce the virus into new areas.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Like other poxviruses, lumpy skin disease causes raised skin nodules. These nodules can be very firm and painful, and may affect the ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ (membranes) of the nose and respiratory tract. Cattle may also develop secondary infections of the nodules that can result in skin sloughing off.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Diagnosis usually involves ๐๐๐ or ๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, to identify the virus specifically. In some cases, a ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ฒ of a lump may be helpful as well.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for lumpy skin disease. Most animals will eventually recover, leaving behind scar tissue where their lumps used to be.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-5) Lumpy cows!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Gibbs P. Lumpy skin disease in cattle. Merck Veterinary Manual 2021.
Photos 1-5 Noahโs Arkive contributor Breeze, Gregg licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
