Histopathologic and ultrastructural studies of lumpy skin disease virus infection in cross breed Friesian cows

Introduction Lumpy skin disease is caused by a capripoxvirus. Infection of cattle with lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is known to have great economic consequence in Africa, Asia and recently in Europe.

Material and methods Skin biopsies of 2 × 2 cm from 2 infected cross breed Friesian cows during an outbreak of LSDV in northern Nigeria were fixed in 10 % buffered formalin, processed and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histopathology. Paraffin embedded skin tissues were further processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and viewed using Tecnai G2 Spirit electron microscope.

Findings Histopathologic lesion of LSDV in skin biopsies was evident by severe generalised dermatitis, vasculitis, haemorrhage and the presence of dermal nodules composed of numerous macrophages, some lymphocytes and few plasma cells. Keratinocytes and macrophages contained 3–4 large eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. TEM showed numerous poxvirus particles of up to 300 nm within the cytoplasm of keratinocytes, macrophages and endothelial cells of blood vessels intralesionally.

Conclusion These histopathological and ultrastructural findings are consistent with LSDV infection.

Publication History

Article published online:
06 July 2020