Background and Aim: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly infectious viral disease upsetting cattle, caused by LSD virus (LSDV) within the family Poxviridae. Sporadic cases of LSD have been observed in cattle previously vaccinated with the Romanian sheep poxvirus (SPPV) vaccine during the summer of 2016 in Sharkia province, Egypt. The present study was undertaken to perform molecular characterization of LSDV strains which circulated in this period as well as investigate their phylogenetic relatedness with published reference capripoxvirus genome sequences.

Materials and Methods: A total of 82 skin nodules, as well as 5 lymph nodes, were collected from suspect LSD cases, and the virus was isolated in embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). LSD was confirmed by polymerase chain reactions amplification of the partial and full-length sequences of the attachment and G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor (GPCR) genes, respectively, as well as a histopathological examination of the lesions. Molecular characterization of the LSDV isolates was conducted by sequencing the GPCR gene.

Results: Characteristic skin nodules that covered the whole intact skin, as well as lymphadenopathy, were significant clinical signs in all suspected cases. LSDV isolation in ECEs revealed the characteristic focal white pock lesions dispersed on the chorioallantoic membranes. Histopathologic examination showed characteristic eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within inflammatory cell infiltration. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the LSDV isolates were clustered together with other African and European LSDV strains. In addition, the LSDV isolates have a unique signature of LSDVs (A11, T12, T34, S99, and P199).

Conclusion: LSDV infections have been detected in cattle previously vaccinated with Romanian SPPV vaccine during the summer of 2016 and making the evaluation of vaccine efficacy under field conditions necessary.

Keywords: cattle, Egypt, lumpy skin disease, Poxviridae, Sharkia province.

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