INFECTIOUS

LARYNGOTRACHEITIS
DEFINATION
 An acute respiratory disease of layer chickens (mild to
per acute)
Characterized by
 Signs of respiratory depression, dyspnoea
 Gasping, coughing, neck extension during inspiration
 Expectoration of bloody exudates
 Severe necrotizing laryngitis and tracheitis
 Morbidity (50-70%)
 Mortality (10-20%)
HISTORY

 Firstly, described in 1925 in USA.

 The disease is endemic in northern areas
and mid Punjab of Pakistan, where layer
population is more
ETIOLOGY

 ILT virus or Herpes virus

 Family: Herpesviridae
 Characteristics:
 DNA virus
 Enveloped
 Sensitive to heat & various disinfectants ( iodophores,
quarternary ammonium and sodium hypochlorite )
 Inactivates in less than 24 hours at 37oC
 Kills the cells lining the airways causing variable degrees of
breathing difficulty
HOST

 Chicken is primary natural host (3-9 months,

acute form of disease occurs)
 Although affects all ages, the most
characteristic signs are observed in adult
birds. Less than 4 weeks show mild form
 Pheasants and Peafowls also affected
 Turkeys, ducks and geese do not get the
disease, but they can spread the virus
TRANSMISSION
Sick bird excretes virus;
 Respiratory secretions
 Droppings

Horizontal
 Mechanical transmission by use of contaminated
equipments & litter
 Recovered birds become carriers and excrete virus
 Wild birds may act as carriers
 Mechanical carriers (Humans, Dogs, Rats, crows)

Vertical: Not reported

FACTORS INFLUENCING
SUSCEPTIBILITY
 More prevalent in cold months (poor ventilation). Out
breaks are common in winter and autumn.
 Clinical disease is more severe in hotter climates; it
appears that the humid & high temperature enhance the
respiratory distress.
 Occurs from year to year on the same premises or in the
same general area.
 Susceptible age; seen mainly in maturing or mature
chicken (3-9 months) and disease is mild or rare under 4
weeks of age.
 Stress; movement, handling or even onset of laying
SIGNS

 Three major forms; - acute, subacute and the mild or

chronic forms
 Neck may be extended during an inspiratory effect, with
open beak to inhale more air (since the trachea is often
partially occluded)
 Nasal discharge & moist rales
 Coughing, Gasping and marked dyspnoea
 Expectoration of blood stained mucus
 Beak and neck feathers may be stained with blood
 Drop in egg production but no affect on egg quality
PATHOGENESIS

 Natural portals of entry are through upper respiratory

tract & ocular route
 Virus attaches to cell receptors on the cell surface
 Fusion of viral enveloped with host cell plasma
membrane & Nucleocapsid is released into cytoplasm
 Transported to the nuclear membrane & migrates into
nucleus through nuclear pores
 Transcription & replication of viral DNA in the nucleus
 Enveloped virion release by cell lysis
 Intense viral replication in respiratory tissue with little or
no viremia and production of intra nuclear inclusion
bodies in the tracheal epithelium
POSTMORTEM FINDINGS

 Lesions occur most consistently in tracheal & laryngeal

tissues
 Edema & congestion of the epithelium of the conjunctiva
& infraorbital sinuses in mild form of the disease
 Excessive mucus and/or haemorrhages in trachea &
larynx
 Blood mixed with mucus & necrotic tissue in the lumen of
trachea (blood casts)
 Tracheal plugs may occlude the lumen of trachea
 Intranuclear inclusions are present in early stages (1-5
days) of the disease, as necrosis & desquamation
destroy affected epithelial tissue.
 DIAGNOSIS
 Clinical signs in case of severe acute disease; high
mortality & expectoration of blood
 Detection of intra-nuclear inclusion bodies in respiratory
& conjunctival epithelium
 Isolation & identification of the causative organism
Site for sample collection
 Trachea, larynx, conjunctiva or exudate collected by
swabbing these areas
 Serology
 ELISA
 Virus neutralization
 Agar gel immunodiffusion
 Indirect fluorescent antibody
 RT-PCR
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

 IB: It has greater effect on egg production and

high mortality than ILT. Deterioration of egg
quality is not normally a factor in ILT.
 ND: Higher mortality, Nervous signs &
proventricular haemorrhages are more
suggestive of ND. ILT spreads slowly in flock
than ND.
 Fowl pox: Presence of cytoplasmic inclusions
( Diphtheritic form)
CONTROL
 Avoid mixing of vaccinated or recovered chickens with
susceptible ones
 Avoid exposure of susceptible birds to contaminated
fomites
 High level of biosecurity (effective viricidal agent at the
entrance)
 Prevent contamination of feed and water sources by wild
birds
 Do not keep fancy birds or poultry on a commercial
poultry operation
 Rodent & dog control
 Thorough cleanup of poultry house (sanitary
procedures). Houses should be left vacant for 4-6 weeks
 Immunization (live or killed attenuated vaccines after 2nd
week) in DW, ED or Aerosol Sprays & revaccinated at 10
weeks of age.
Swollen, watery eyes
Open-mouth breathing
Open-mouth breathing
Gasping and Dyspnoea
Bloody mucus in mouth
Trachea filled with blood and
mucus
MUCOUS, NECROSIS, BLOOD
Trachea filled with blood
Harmorrhagic trachea
Intra-nuclear inclusion bodies in
respiratory epithelium
Intra-nuclear inclusion bodies