Identification and characterisation of lumpy skin disease virus recently isolated from Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease, geographically distributed in Africa and now, vigorously spread in the Near East and also in Europe and Asia. It has a significant economic impact on cattle industry in Africa. The aim of this study was isolation and rapid identification of LSD virus circula­ting in Egypt from clinically suspected cattle based on clinical and molecular basis in a rapid and accurate way. Fifteen representative specimens (skin sitfasts) were collected in 2018 from clinically infected cattle in Giza governorate, Egypt. The virus was isolated on chorioallantoic membrane of specific pathogen free embryonated chicken eggs and Madin Darby Bovine Kidney tissue culture cells. The isolated virus was identified and confirmed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR. Histopathological examination of the lesions showed a pathognomic intracytoplasmic inclusion body in dermal stroma section. The section of dermal layer revealed vasculitis with projection of its endothelial lining. It was concluded that LSD was enzootic in Egypt and still circulating among Egyptian cattle so that LSD virus could be isolated and identified by traditional and molecular diagnostic methodes. Real time PCR assay could be applied for rapid and accurate confirmation of the field isolate of LSD virus.