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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Endemic Poultry Viral Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #287400
Title: Infectious Laryngotracheitis

Author
item Garcia, Maricarmen
item Spatz, Stephen
item GUY, JAMES - North Carolina State University

Submitted to: Diseases of Poultry
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/2012
Publication Date: 10/20/2013
Citation: Garcia, M., Spatz, S.J., Guy, J.S. 2013. Infectious Laryngotracheitis. In: Swayne, D.E., Glisson, J.R., McDougald, L.R., Nolan, L.K., Suarez, D.L., Venugopal, N, editors. Diseases of Poultry. 13th edition. Ames, IA: John Wiley and Sons, INC. p.161-179.

Interpretive Summary: Laryngotracheitis (LT) is a respiratory tract infection of chickens caused by Gallid herpesvirus type 1 (GaHV-1). This virus may cause severe production losses due to mortality and/or decreased egg production. Severe epizootic forms of infection are characterized by signs of respiratory distress including gasping, expectoration of bloody mucus, with high morbidity and moderate to high mortality. Mild enzootic forms of infection are encountered increasingly in developed poultry industries and manifest variously as mucoid tracheitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, general unthriftiness, and low mortality. Gallid herpesvirus type 1 is a pathogen normally selected for exclusion from specific-pathogen-free chicken flocks.

Technical Abstract: Laryngotracheitis (LT) is a respiratory tract infection of chickens caused by Gallid herpesvirus type 1 (GaHV-1). This virus may cause severe production losses due to mortality and/or decreased egg production. Severe epizootic forms of infection are characterized by signs of respiratory distress including gasping, expectoration of bloody mucus, with high morbidity and moderate to high mortality. Mild enzootic forms of infection are encountered increasingly in developed poultry industries and manifest variously as mucoid tracheitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, general unthriftiness, and low mortality. Gallid herpesvirus type 1 is a pathogen normally selected for exclusion from specific-pathogen-free chicken flocks.