Demographic factors influencing Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) prevalence at Barishal district in Bangladesh: A retrospective study

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), a contagious viral disease, had been a matter of great concern for Bangladesh as the outbreak of LSD occurred in the mid of 2019. Later the disease began to show symptoms like significant production loss, infertility, aberrant pregnancies and abortions, and even fatalities. So, a retrospective study was carried out to investigate the prevalence rate and associated risk factors of LSD in cattle at Barishal district, Bangladesh. The study was performed at Upazilla Veterinary Hospital, Babuganj, Barishal from January 2021 to June 2022. Among 2047 clinical cases reported at the hospitals, 44 cases were found as LSD positive. The prevalence rate of LSD in the aforementioned territory was 2.15%. The highest prevalence was estimated in June 2022 (13.39%) followed by May 2022 (7.32%), August 2021(4.35%), February 2021(4.00%), April 2022 (2.23%), March 2021 (1.69%), February 2022 (1.53%), March 2022(0.76%), September 2021 (0.75%). In the contrast, no LSD case was detected in Jan 2021, May 2021, Jun 2021, Oct 2021, Nov 2021, Dec 2021, and Jan 2022. Breed [χ2 (1, N=2047) =4.989, p<.05] and sex [χ2 (1, N=2047) =4.695, p<.05] of the animals were identified as significant demographic factors for LSDV infections in this locality. Additionally, indigenous breeds [(2.63%), 95%CI: 2.454 (1.088-5.534)], females [(2.76%), 95%CI: 0.484 (0.248-0.946)] and older cattle (>5 years) (3.48%) had a greater prevalence rate than the crossbreeds, males and younger cattle respectively. As LSD has recently become more prevalent, restriction of animal movements, control of vectors, proper vaccination and treatments, routine-wise animal screening, immediate isolation and quarantine of the affected animals are some of the strategies that are strongly recommended and might be followed for reducing the LSD occurrence and spreading in this area.