Epidemiological insights of lumpy skin disease and farmer's adaptive responses in India.

This study documented critical field epidemiological parameters of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and farmer-adopted mitigation strategies, utilizing primary data collected from 2,351 cattle farms across seven states in India. Reported clinical LSD incidence was 76–94% in the surveyed villages and 30–57% in the surveyed farms across the study states. LSD incidence was observed round the year but the peak incidence period varied across the states. The pooled reported clinical incidence and farmer-reported mortality levels across the study states was 23.4% and 4.0% and 22.3% and 5.5%, in crossbred and indigenous cattle, respectively. The number of days LSD persisted ranged between 30 and 85 days in the villages and 15–37 days in the farms. Farmers adopted multiple mitigation measures, including vaccination, vector control, traditional treatments, and livestock insurance, along with biosecurity practices such as isolation of sick animals, restriction of animal movement and disinfection measures, though adoption levels varied across regions. Overall, the findings highlight strengthening vaccination coverage, alongside improved biosecurity, may reduce the LSD burden under similar field conditions.