The Acquisition and Retention of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus by Blood-Feeding Insects Is Influenced by the Source of Virus, the Insect Body Part, and the Time since Feeding
Beatriz Sanz‐Bernardo, Rey Suckoo, Ismar R. Haga, Najith Wijesiriwardana, Alice Harvey, S Basu, Will Larner, Sara Rooney, Victoria E. Sy, Zoë Langlands, Eric Denison, C. J. Sanders, John Atkinson, Carrie Batten, Luke Alphey, Karin E. Darpel, Simon Gubbins, Philippa M. Beard
Abstract
Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a high consequence pathogen of cattle that is rapidly expanding its geographical boundaries into new regions such as Europe and Asia. This expansion is promoted by the mechanical transmission of the virus via hematogenous arthropods. This study quantifies the acquisition and retention of LSDV by four species of blood-feeding insects and reveals that the cutaneous lesions of LSD provide the high titer virus source necessary for virus acquisition by the insects. An artificial membrane feeding system containing a high titer of LSDV was shown to be comparable to a skin lesion on a clinically affected animal when used as a virus source. This promotes the use of these laboratory-based systems as replacements for some animal studies. Overall, this work advances our understanding of the mechanical vector-borne transmission of LSDV and provides evidence to support the design of more effective disease control programmes.