Quantifying the acquisition and retention of lumpy skin disease virus by haematophagus insects and the implications for transmission and control.

Robust transmission parameters are required in order to control infectious diseases. With a novel approach, we combine in vivo experimental studies with mathematical modelling to estimate transmission parameters of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), a vector-transmitted poxvirus of cattle, including the relevance of four potential vector species (Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Stomoxys calcitrans and Culicoides nubeculosus). The probability of LSDV transmission from clinical cattle to the vector correlated with disease severity, and was very low when subclinical animals were considered. All four vector species tested had a similar rate of acquisition of LSDV after feeding on the host, retaining the virus for up to 8 days. We combined our experimental results with other published data on LSDV transmission and vector life history to determine the basic reproduction number of LSDV in cattle mediated by each of the model species, which can be used to inform LSD control programmes.