A new study by Pirbright scientists and researchers from the Chiang Mai University in Thailand highlights the negative financial impact of lumpy skin disease (LSD) on farmers in northern Thailand.
The research, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, revealed that affected farms faced losses averaging over $700 per farm.
LSD is a viral disease affecting cattle, primarily transmitted by biting insects and mosquitoes. The disease causes nodular lesions on the skin as well as milk yield reduction, weight loss and increased mortality, posing a major threat to the livestock industry.
Before 2012, LSD was limited to sporadic outbreaks in the Middle East. However, the virus (LSDV) has since spread widely to new regions, including Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The first outbreak in Asia occurred in Bangladesh in 2019, with subsequent spread to China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand.
In 2021, Thailand experienced nationwide LSD outbreaks, significantly impacting its dairy industry. Northern Thailand, a key dairy farming region, was particularly affected as the local cattle population had no prior exposure to the virus.
The study is the first to provide a detailed estimate of financial losses caused by the disease in Thailand. The researchers compared 100 farms affected by LSD outbreaks with 33 farms that did not experience outbreaks in the Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces.
Researchers in Thailand. Credit: Veerasak Punyapornwithaya.
They found that the average total financial loss in farms that experience an outbreak was $727.38 per farm, with important variability across farms. Financial losses were primarily a result of mortality, reduced milk yield and milk discarded during antibiotic withdrawal periods.
Non-outbreak farms also incurred financial losses (an average of $349.19 per farm), due to vaccination and disease prevention costs. The LSD outbreaks negatively affected all farms in the outbreak areas, as both farms with and without clinical cases had to bear prevention costs.
The findings highlight the need for continued surveillance of the disease, vaccination campaigns and support for farmers. By understanding the financial impact, farmers and policymakers can allocate resources more effectively and develop strategies to mitigate future outbreaks.
Dr Georgina Limon Vega, Applied Epidemiology Group Lead and author of the study said “This study underscores the importance of proactive measures to protect farmers and the cattle industry."
Dr Veerasak Punyapornwithaya, leader of the study added "The financial consequences of LSD outbreaks compromise farmers livelihoods, and we hope these findings will guide more effective mitigation efforts.”
As the home of the National and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reference laboratory for LSDV, Pirbright plays a critical role in diagnostics, surveillance, and advising the UK government and WOAH.
Read the paper
Modethed, W., Kreausukon, K., Singhla, T. et al. (2024) An evaluation of financial losses due to lumpy skin disease outbreaks in dairy farms of Northern Thailand. Frontiers in Veterinary Science https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1501460
