Experimental infection of game animals with lumpy skin disease virus (prototype strain Neethling)

Abstract

Calves of a giraffe, an impala, two buffaloes, and two adult black wildebeests were artificially infected with the Neethling type of lumpy skin disease virus. The giraffe and impala died with typical symptoms and lesions of the disease. Virological examinations confirmed the presence of lumpy skin disease virus in lesions of these animals. Histopathological studies revealed microscopic lesions typical of those reported in cattle suffering from lumpy skin disease. Both intracytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions were noticed in various cell types and some additional histopathological changes are reported. Neither the wildebeests nor the buffaloes reacted clinically to artificial infection and they failed to show a rise in antibody titre subsequently.