Abstract
Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle mainly and induced by the Lumpy Skin Virus within the Capripoxvirus genus of the family Poxviridae. LSD infected animals exhibit pyrexia and sudden appearance of localized or generalized skin nodules that may slough leaving ulcers. The disease has negative economic impacts as a result of hide damage, mastitis, infertility and losses in milk production. Secondary bacterial infection in the affected skin lesions can increase the severity and prolong the course of the disease. Little is known about the microbiome in the ulcerated skin sites. Therefore, the present study was directed to identify the prevalent bacterial communities in affected lesion via the 16s rRNA gene sequencing. Up to 98 species were found in the samples, most of them belonging to the phyla of Proteobacteria, followed by Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. All found bacterial species are known as opportunistic pathogens, but can withstand the inflammatory reaction.