Detection of Circulating Strains of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus in The City of Benghazi Using Polymerase Chain Reaction

Z. Akriem; Mohammd Abd Alati; Randa Mahmoud; Abdulsalam Saleh; Fathi Muhammad; Mahmoud Al-Jahmi; Ahmed Al-Awami

doi:10.54361/ajmas.269606

Authors

Z. Akriem Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Bayda, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5567-8082
Mohammd Abd Alati Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Bayda, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7185-7001
Randa Mahmoud Department of Health Food Hygiene, Omar AL Mukhtar University, AL Beida, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3983-0938
Abdulsalam Saleh Department of Health Food Hygiene, Omar AL Mukhtar University, AL Beida, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0281-3596
Fathi Muhammad National Center for Animal Health, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2170-2186
Mahmoud Al-Jahmi National Center for Animal Health, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2462-1154
Ahmed Al-Awami National Center for Animal Health, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5546-4289

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54361/ajmas.269606

Keywords:

LSDV, PCR, Benghazi, Vaccination, Animals

Abstract

Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV) is a disease that causes significant economic losses in livestock, particularly in Benghazi, Libya. It is listed as an endangered species (OIE) and is caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). When the disease occurs, attenuated strains of the virus are used to successfully control it, provided a vaccination policy is implemented. However, there is a possibility of rapid adverse reactions in animals after vaccination. Therefore, it is essential to use diagnostic methods that differentiate between the pathogenic virus strain and the vaccine itself. This study, conducted in 2025 at the Central Animal Health Laboratory in Benghazi, investigated the reaction using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on 181 samples from newly infected and vaccinated animals. The results were positive, as real-time PCR is more sensitive than interfering PCR. This allows for the rapid detection of animals exposed to a highly virulent virus. In conclusion, the KV-2/FLI device used in this study is characterized by its rapid sensitivity for routine laboratory use and can be used instead of the traditional polymerase chain reaction to detect bovine lumpy skin disease virus strains and pox viruses in all clinical samples collected.