Lumpy Skin Disease in Cattle and Buffalo in Asian Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an acute viral transboundary disease of cattle and buffalo with significant economic importance caused by the LSD virus in the Poxviridae family.

This study aimed to determine the regional prevalence of LSD in cattle and buffalo in Asian countries using a systematic approach.

A systematic search for articles on the prevalence of LSD in cattle and buffalo was performed via PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and article reference lists published between 1 January, 2012 and 28 February, 2025. Articles were selected according to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence was estimated through a random effects meta-analysis model because significant heterogeneity existed among the studies.

The overall pooled estimated prevalence of LSD in Asia was 25.2% (95% CI: 95% CI: 19.95-30.88%), with significant variations across species, countries, and diagnostic methods. Cattle had the highest pooled prevalence at 26.2% (95% CI: 20.73-31.96%), whereas buffalo reported much lower rates at 7.7% (95% CI: 3.60-13.00%), and epidemic cases presented the highest prevalence at 41.4% (95% CI: 0-98.1%). Temporal analysis revealed that the peak prevalence in 2016 was 74% (95% CI: 68.56-79.06%), and the lowest estimate in 2015 was 16.3% (95% CI: 3.25-36.47%).

This study reveals significant regional and species-based variations in LSD prevalence across Asia, with diagnostic methods and temporal trends influencing the results. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted surveillance and control strategies to address high-prevalence areas.