Abstract:
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an economically important, acute or sub-acute, viral disease of
cattle that occurs across Africa and in the Middle East. The aim of this study was to investigate if
lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) can be transmitted mechanically by African brown ear ticks
(Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neum.). Laboratory-bred R. appendiculatus males were fed on
experimentally infected viraemic ‘donor’ cattle. Partially fed male ticks were then transferred to
feed on an uninfected ‘ recipient ’ cow. The recipient animal became viraemic, showed mild clinical
signs of LSD and seroconverted. Additionally, R. appendiculatus males were found to transmit
LSDV through feeding on skin lacking visible lesions, demonstrating that viraemic animals
without lesions at the feeding site of ticks may be a source of infection. This is the first time that
transmission of poxviruses by a tick species has been demonstrated and the importance of this
mode of transmission in the spread of LSDV in endemic settings is discussed.
