Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an increasing threat to the global cattle industry, and Vietnam is among the countries recently affected. In response to this growing concern, a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the infection status and risk factors associated with LSD outbreaks in the Mekong Delta. The study documented an LSD outbreak in the Mekong Delta provinces of Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, and Ben Tre between May 2023 and June 2024. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with farmers impacted by the disease. The collected epidemiological data were analysed, and the LSDV strains were genetically characterised. Out of 1,278 animals clinically examined across 180 farms, 80 tested positive via PCR, resulting in a morbidity rate of 6.26% and a herd prevalence of 37.22%. The morbidity rates in the 19 districts surveyed ranged from 1.45% to 17.95%. Risk factor analysis revealed that unvaccinated animals had the highest incidence rate at 17.94% (P<0.05), with an OR of 5.52 (95%CI: 3.62–8.44). Additionally, calves under six months old have a significantly higher risk of LSD compared to cows aged 6–24 months (OR 1.84, 95%CI: 1.14–3.00) and compared to animals older than 24 months (OR 4.82, 95% CI: 2.73-8.51). Phylogenetic analysis of the P32 gene of LSDV (PP934191-PP934205) indicated 100% similarity with other isolates from China, Russia, and Thailand. The findings of this study provide critical epidemiological insights into the risk factors associated with LSD in the Mekong Delta. This information is essential for government livestock regulators to develop effective prevention and control strategies, thereby mitigating the negative impact of LSD on cattle farming.
Keywords | Lumpy skin disease virus, Epidemiological, Characterization, Gene P32, Mekong Delta, Vietnam