Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is one of the most economically significant viral diseases of cattle caused by the Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV), classified as a member of the genus Capripoxvirus and belongs to the family Poxviridae. Nodular skin samples were collected from clinically sick cattle in the districts of Amuru and Wara Jarso Ethiopia to isolate LSD virus. The virus was isolated using primary lamb testis and kidney cells. The isolated LSDV was infected into a healthy calf while maintaining the necessary biosecurity measures to generate skin lesions and to assess disease progression using postmortem examinations. On the fourth day after virus inoculation, the calf developed typical LSD skin nodules with increased rectal temperature, which lasted until the 12th day, when they began to decrease. Viral shedding was detected in nasal, oral, and conjunctival swabs from 6 to 14 days after infection using real-time PCR. Post-mortem tissue specimens tested positive for LSD virus using real-time PCR and virus isolation. This study showed that LSDV were responsible for the LSD outbreaks, and the appearance of typical skin nodules accompanied by fever (> 39.5 °C) defined the virus’s virulent status. The experimental infection with the isolated infectious LSDV could serve as a platform for future vaccine evaluation study using an LSDV challenge model.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an economically significant viral disease because of its high morbidity and high production loss. Vaccination of cattle using LSD vaccines is a more effective disease preventive and control strategy in endemic countries such as Ethiopia. Despite high vaccination coverage, there is an increasing number of field reports of the disease outbreaks. Thus, an observational study was designed to investigate disease, characterize the disease‐causing agent, and isolate the virus from a local isolate for future vaccine development. Wera Jarso and Amuru districts in North West Oromia were chosen based on outbreak occurrence. For this study skin, 13 pooled biopsy samples were collected from affected cattle. In this outbreak investigation, the morbidity rate was 6.50%, the mortality rate was 0.50%, and the case fatality rate was 7.77%. The virus was isolated from all skin samples on both lamb testis and lamb kidney primary cells and confirmed to be LSDV using conventional and real‐time PCR genotyping. Therefore, after each suspected LSD outbreak, a molecular test should be carried out to confirm the cause of the disease, targeting the previously suggested RPO30 or GPCR genes. Further studies targeting more regions and outbreaks, including full genome sequencing to check for genetic differences between the field viruses and vaccine strains, are recommended.

An outbreak investigation of camelpox in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) was conducted from October 2024 to May 2025 in Borena Zone, Ethiopia, with the aims of isolating, confirming the etiology and molecular characterization of camelpox virus from outbreak cases. The study integrated clinical assessment, virus isolation using Vero cell lines, and molecular characterization using conventional PCR, real-time PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Clinically affected camels manifested typical pox-like lesions, fever and swollen lymph nodes, with a morbidity rate of 33.8% (24/71) and a case fatality rate of 4.2% (1/24). The virus was successfully isolated showing typical cytopathic effects of rounding of cells, syncytia, giant cell formation, aggregation and detachment. Conventional PCR targeting A-type inclusion protein (ATIP) gene amplified the expected 881 bp fragment with 26.3% positivity in both skin scab and nasal swab samples. Real-time PCR employing high-resolution melting curve analysis detected the viral DNA in 52.6% of samples with a melting temperature of 73.00 ± 0.20 °C for CMPV. Sequencing of the ATIP gene showed 100% nucleotide similarity with reference CMPV strains of CMPV M-96, CMPV CMS, strain 0408151v and CMPV genome (NC_003391), although a single nucleotide variation was noted when compared to the previously reported Ethiopian isolates (KU705085-KU705110) and Israeli isolates (MK910851 and MZ300856), and two nucleotide mismatches were observed with Sudanese isolates (KT931624 and KT931625). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the current isolates clustered with CMPV strains of CMPV M-96, CMPV CMS, strain 0408151v and others but were distinct from previously reported Ethiopian isolates. This study provides significant insights on early diagnosis and control strategies.

Background: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a severe, highly contagious, and fatal viral disease of small ruminants that causes significant production losses and mortality in Ethiopia. A cross‐sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to July 2022 to determine the seroprevalence of the disease in the study area. Samples were collected from the outbreak to conduct viral isolation and molecular detection, focusing specifically on sheep and goats as the study animals in the investigation. Materials and Methods: Clinical specimens were first collected from small ruminants showing signs suggestive of PPR. Paired swab samples and postmortem tissue specimens were obtained for virus isolation and molecular characterization. During necropsy, representative tissue sections were aseptically trimmed and processed. Of 250 clinically suspected animals, 25 were selected for detailed virus isolation and molecular detection of PPR virus (PPRV). PCR‐positive samples were further confirmed through virus isolation in cell culture. Subsequently, blood samples (4 mL) were collected from the jugular vein of 384 small ruminants older than 6 months for serological analysis. Serum was separated and analyzed to determine the seroprevalence of the infection. Results: PPRV was detected in 10 of 25 samples (40%)using reverse transcriptase PCR (RT–PCR), and of these RT–PCR‐positive samples, PPRV was isolated from four samples using Vero cells. The overall seroprevalence of PPRV was 20.6% ( n = 384). Age, herd composition, and history of the recent introduction of new small ruminants were significantly associated with seropositivity of PPR ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study confirmed widespread circulation of PPRV in the study areas, significantly affecting small ruminant productivity. High seroprevalence indicated endemicity, with identified risk factors including introducing new small ruminants and herd composition. Recommendations emphasize integrating small ruminants with other livestock and supporting government efforts. Caution is needed due to regional variations, highlighting the importance of further molecular characterization of circulating PPRV strains.