Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Production of Germ-Free Fast-Growing Broilers from a Commercial Line for Microbiota Studies
05:51

Production of Germ-Free Fast-Growing Broilers from a Commercial Line for Microbiota Studies

Published on: June 18, 2020

Mild infectious laryngotracheitis in broilers in the southeast

Holly S Sellers1, Maricarmen García, John R Glisson

  • 1Department of Avian Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.

Avian Diseases
|July 31, 2004
PubMed

Insights

A mild infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) outbreak in broilers showed minimal symptoms and no mortality. Genetic analysis revealed the ILTV strain is related to a vaccine type.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Virology
  • Avian Pathology

Background:

  • Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) can cause significant economic losses in poultry.
  • Understanding ILTV strains is crucial for disease control and vaccine development.

Observation:

  • A mild ILTV infection in broiler flocks in the southeastern US during 2001 presented with tracheitis, swollen sinuses, and conjunctivitis.
  • No increased mortality or significant serologic response was noted.
  • Histopathology revealed infrequent intranuclear inclusion bodies and syncytial cell formation in affected tissues and embryos.

Findings:

  • Immunohistochemistry and nested ILT PCR confirmed ILTV nucleic acid in fixed tissues.
  • SPF birds inoculated with field material showed similar mild clinical signs.
  • Nested ILT PCR confirmed ILTV in swabs and tissues from experimentally infected SPF birds.
  • RFLP analysis of ILT PCR products indicated the field ILTV strain is related to chicken embryo origin vaccine strains.

Implications:

  • This suggests a potential for less virulent ILTV strains circulating in commercial broiler populations.
  • The genetic similarity to vaccine strains warrants further investigation into their origin and potential for reassessment of diagnostic and control strategies.
  • Monitoring ILTV for genetic drift and changes in virulence is essential for poultry health management.

More Related Videos

Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assays for the Species-specific Detection of Eimeria that Infect Chickens06:57

Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assays for the Species-specific Detection of Eimeria that Infect Chickens

Published on: February 20, 2015

Procedures for Identifying Infectious Prions After Passage Through the Digestive System of an Avian Species12:00

Procedures for Identifying Infectious Prions After Passage Through the Digestive System of an Avian Species

Published on: November 6, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Chickenpox01:20

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...