Evaluating Cattle Farmers' Awareness of Lumpy Skin Disease: Insights on Transmission, Prevention, and Control in Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the level of awareness among cattle farmers about Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), including its general aspects, transmission, and preventive measures, in the Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. The study involved 218 cattle farmers who visited the various Veterinary Dispensaries in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. Data were collected through personal interviews using a pre-tested and semi-structured interview schedule. The level of awareness was assessed based on the mean scores obtained from the respondents. The findings revealed that while respondents demonstrated a higher level of awareness regarding LSD affecting cattle, they lacked knowledge about viral diseases that cause abortion in dairy animals. Respondents showed greater awareness about the 'introduction of infected animals into the herd.' Still, they had less awareness about the role of 'contaminated feed and water' in disease transmission, as well as the movement of cattle and the impact of ticks, mosquitoes, and flies in transmitting the disease. Concerning preventive and control measures, respondents were more aware that vaccination is an effective method for controlling LSD but had less awareness regarding the role of fomites in transmitting the LSD virus between animals and the effectiveness of controlling ticks, flies, and mosquitoes in disease prevention. "Social media was identified as one of the significant sources of information for farmers. However, it needs to be streamlined to ensure the dissemination of accurate and scientific information about the disease, facilitating more effective disease prevention and control."