Clinico-Histopathological Findings and PCR Based Diagnosis of Lumpy
Skin Disease in the Sultanate of Oman
Mohammed Body, K. Pal Singh, M. Hammad Hussain*, Abdulmajeed Al-Rawahi,
Mahir Al-Maawali, Khalisa Al-Lamki and Saif Al-Habsy
Veterinary Research Center, Directorate General of Agriculture and
Livestock Research, Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, Postal Code
121, PO Box 50 Seeb, Sultanate of Oman
*Corresponding Author Email:
m.hammad.hussain@gmail.com
Abstract
Current report describes the clinical, histopathological and molecular diagnosis
of lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreak in the Sultanate of Oman during 2009.
Outbreak was suspected on the basis of clinical picture in 13 cattle (n=201)
farms belonging to Al Batinah (7 holdings), Al Dakhiliyah (2 holdings) and Ash
Sharqiyah (4 holdings) regions. All suspected cases were clinically examined and
a tentative diagnosis of LSD was made upon observation of classical signs.
Morbidity and mortality rates were recorded as 27.9 and 5.5%, respectively.
Apparent case fatality rate observed was 19.6%. Histopathological examination of
the suspected skin biopsy samples revealed presence of ballooning degeneration
and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies characteristic of LSD. PCR reaction was
carried out to confirm the presence of disease. Amplification of 221bp (base
pair) PCR product from samples belonging to all 3 affected regions confirmed the
presence of LSD virus DNA.