The Awareness of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD): Among Health Care Practitioners of Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), the transborder illness can affect cows and water buffalo. Initially seen as an epidemic in the Saharan region of Africa, the disease later spread to central Asian countries, and ultimately, the virus entered Pakistan in early 2022.The negative impact on the large market for such items, as cow, buffalo meat, and milk because the Pakistani people love eating, caused turmoil.The present studywas designed to evaluated the knowledge of healthcare practitioners (HCP) regarding various aspects of the LSD such as its clinicopathology, transmission, source of infection, epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and control measuresof disease.

Method: This study evaluated the knowledge of HCP in Karachi regarding LSD. It was descriptive and exploratory in nature and took place over a period of 2 months, i.e.,February to March to 2022. The respondents were randomly selected by convenience sampling and surveyed by a questionnaire.

Result: Out of 400 questionnaires, 320 were incorporated in the study and a response rate of 80.0% was achieved. The majority (60.3%) considered themselves to be somewhat knowledgeable; females had more knowledge as compared to male (p < 0.000). The status of knowledge was also significantly associated with the experience (p = 0.000) of respondents. Interestingly, the findings revealed that respondents’ knowledge about LSD is good. Respondents considered LSD a severe disease and emphasized on the need for protective measures when contacting affected animals.

Conclusion: The knowledge of medical practitioners about LSD was significant. The findings from this study may serve as a baseline information for future epidemiological studies and support authorities to establish effective control programs for LSD in Pakistan.Other vise LSD is unquestionably posing a danger to dent Pakistan's livestock sector and business.