Download Infectious Laryngotracheitis

Infectious Laryngotracheitis
Transmission
Field infection occurs from bird to bird by
the respiratory route. Most outbreaks of
ILT on farms are traced back to
transmission by contaminated people or
equipment (visitors, shoes, clothing, egg
boxes, used feeders, waterers, cages,
crates etc.). The incubation period varies
from 4 to 12 days.
Species affected
Chickens and pheasants are natural hosts
for ILT.
Clinical signs
Respiratory distress is usually quite
pronounced due to build up of blood,
sloughed tracheal lining and even
caseous exudate in larynx and trachea.
When a caseous plug occludes the larynx
or trachea, the affected chickens will have
extreme difficulty breathing ("pump
handle" breathing) and will frequently die
from suffocation. Mortality is
approximately 1 % per day in a typical ILT
outbreak. Milder forms of ILT outbreaks
occur where less virulent strains of ILT
virus are involved. Conjunctivitis and
respiratory sounds (wheezing) can be
observed, with little or no mortality in
such cases.
The disease spreads through a chicken
house more slowly than either IB or ND.
Egg production in laying flocks will usually
decrease 10 to 50 %, but will return to
normal after 3 to 4 weeks.
Diagnosis
In a chicken flock, spreading of
respiratory distress, with possible
coughing up of blood and mortality is
indicative of ILT. Bloody mucus and
cheesy exudate can be found in larynx
and trachea. In the laboratory a definite
diagnosis can be made by histological
examination of tracheal tissues or virus
isolation from tracheal mucus in
embryonated chicken eggs.
Treatment and control
Prevention of ILT by vaccination with mild
eye-drop vaccine is by far the best control
method. Sometimes such vaccines are
applied by drinking water or spray
methods with variable success. Even when
an outbreak of ILT has been detected in a
chicken flock, immediate vaccination is
advisable to stop the spread of infection.
VETERINARY
Cause
Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT) is
caused by a virus belonging to the
herpes group. Only one serotype is
known.