This work was proposed to study pathologic characteristics of lumpy skin disease (LSD)
among naturally infected cattle and to demonstrate LSDV antigen within different tissues
including the skin nodules, regional lymph nodes, lung and liver using PCR and immunohistochemistry.
Among the infected cattle, one dairy cattle and 5 calves were dead (mortality
rate is 6.97%). The major gross alterations in all investigated cases included numerous
1-5 cm well circumscribed, round cutaneous nodules covered the whole body in most cases
with severe enlargement of superficial lymph nodes. The main microscopical changes were
severe ballooning degeneration of the epidermis, dermatitis, with severe vasculitis affecting
the dermal blood vessels. Multiple intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions were present
in degenerated epidermal cells. Several pathological changes were also detected in the
liver, lung, kidney, intestine and lymph nodes. Strong positive PCR signals were appeared
in skin nodules, lung and lymph node. Additionally, positive immunoperixodiase reaction
was demonstrated in the skin, lung, kidney and lymph nodes. Furthermore, LSDV was isolated
on chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) of spf embryonated chicken eggs from skin
nodules and regional lymph nodes collected from dead animals. Virion particles were observed
on CAM by electron microscope. Finally, it could be concluded that skin lesions is
a constant lesion in both young and adult animals together with systemic infection in severely
infected animals. |
