Immunoprophylaxis and Vaccines for Lumpy Skin Disease in India

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a capripoxvirus-induced viral disease affecting cattle and buffaloes. Vaccination remains the cornerstone of control, reducing disease incidence, morbidity, and economic losses. In India, both heterologous capripox vaccines and newly developed homologous LSD vaccines have been evaluated for safety, immunogenicity, and field effectiveness. 

Heterologous Capripox Vaccines (Goatpox) in India 

Before LSD-specific vaccines were widely available, the goatpox virus–based heterologous vaccine (Uttarkashi strain) was used in emergency vaccination programs due to cross-protection against LSDV. A multi-district randomized field trial in Maharashtra demonstrated¹: 

• Detectable humoral antibodies as early as 7 days post-vaccination, with marked increases by 14 days. 

• Protective neutralizing antibody titers (≥1:8) in 96.9% of vaccinated cattle by 14–21 days, peaking at 60 days. 

• Cell-mediated immunity (interferon-gamma) peaked at 28 days post-vaccination. 

• After one year of follow-up, only ~2% of vaccinated cattle developed mild LSD symptoms, with no mortality. 

• Six months post-vaccination, the seroconversion rate was 69.7%, influenced by breed. 

• No significant adverse reactions were reported. 

These findings confirm that the heterologous goatpox vaccine is safe and immunogenic, though antibody levels decline over time, indicating a need for monitoring and potential booster doses. 

Homologous LSD Vaccine (‘Lumpi-ProVacInd’) 

The development of a live-attenuated vaccine derived from an Indian LSDV field strain, named Lumpi-ProVacInd, represents a major advance in LSD control. Experimental and field evaluations showed²: 

• No local or systemic reactions upon inoculation in calves. 

• Both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were evident by 30 days post-vaccination. 

• Vaccinated animals challenged with virulent LSDV remained healthy, whereas unvaccinated controls developed skin nodules. 

• In field vaccination of 26,940 animals (26,527 cattle and 413 buffaloes), animals maintained good health, with effective seroconversion observed. 

These data demonstrate the high safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of Lumpi-ProVacInd against circulating LSDV field strains in India. 

Immune Responses in Buffaloes 

Buffaloes are also susceptible to LSDV and should be included in vaccination campaigns. A peer-reviewed study evaluated crossbred buffaloes vaccinated with a live-attenuated goatpox virus (GTPV) vaccine³: 

• Buffaloes developed a significant increase in antibody titers within weeks post-vaccination. 

• Antibody levels persisted for approximately 150 days before gradually declining. 

• No notable changes in body temperature, milk production, or reproductive parameters were observed, indicating safety. 

This demonstrates that buffaloes mount strong humoral immune responses and tolerate vaccination well, supporting their inclusion in LSD immunization programs. 

Programmatic Lessons and Field Insights 

• Heterologous goatpox vaccines are safe and immunogenic, but antibody levels may fall below herd immunity thresholds (~69.7% at six months), emphasizing the need for monitoring and booster strategies¹. 

• Homologous vaccines like Lumpi-ProVacInd provide stronger, targeted protection against LSDV field strains without significant adverse effects². 

• Inclusion of buffaloes in vaccination programs is feasible and recommended to achieve comprehensive herd immunity. 

Conclusion 

Vaccination is the most effective tool for LSD control in India. Heterologous goatpox vaccines offer safe cross-protection, whereas homologous vaccines (Lumpi-ProVacInd) provide enhanced immunogenicity and field efficacy. Monitoring antibody levels, implementing boosters where necessary, and including buffaloes in vaccination campaigns are critical for sustained herd immunity and long-term disease control. 

References 

1. Bayyappa MR, Pabbineedi SM, Nagaraj S, Bijalwan S, Tadakod S, Uma CR, Pawar S, Khan PY, Teotia VK, Gulati BR. Spatiotemporal Epidemiology of Lumpy Skin Disease and Evaluation of the Heterologous Goatpox Vaccine: Insights into Immunogenicity and Impact. Vaccines. 2025 Jun 13;13(6):641. 

2. Kumar N, Barua S, Kumar R, Khandelwal N, Kumar A, Verma A, Singh L, Godara B, Chander Y, Kumar G, Riyesh T. Evaluation of the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a new live-attenuated lumpy skin disease vaccine in India. Virulence. 2023 Dec 31;14(1):2190647. 

3. Abulaiti A, Naseer Z, Ahmed Z, Tian S, Liu W, Shoaib M, Khan A, Abdelrahman M, Kiani FA, Hussain A, Shaukat A. Evaluation of antibody titer and associated risk factors of goat pox vaccine against lumpy skin disease in crossbred buffaloes. Veterinary research communications. 2025 Apr;49(2):1-3.