Infectious laryngotracheitis

Description

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a highly contagious respiratory disease of chickens caused by a herpesvirus. It can infect pheasants, partridges and peafowl, but does not normally affect turkeys, ducks or wild birds. It is distinct from the herpesviruses that affect parrots and pigeons.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on a clinical history of a sudden outbreak of significant respiratory disease in chickens, characterised by severe laryngotracheal lesions which can be observed by examination of the larynxes of affected birds.

Tests available

Test	Sample(s) required	Days of the week test is conducted	Turnaround time¹
Infectious laryngotracheitis virus real-time PCR²	Fresh tissue or swabs	Accordingly to demand	2-3D
Histopathology examination	Fixed tissue	Monday – Friday	Up to 5D

Please Note: D= Working Day(s), W= Week(s). TAT does not include weekends or public holidays.

¹Turnaround times are provided as a guide only. For specific information about your submission please contact Customer Service.
² This test is not NATA accredited.

Additional Information

Specimen requirements

Fixed tissue
Trachea, larynx, lung As the characteristic histological lesions have a short window of occurrence in the clinical course of disease, they may not always be observed in histopathology. Normal charges apply for any histology undertaken, unless that is the only sample available. In many cases, tracheal histology is not specific. Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue
Fresh tissue
Fresh upper trachea with larynx Up to five larynx-tracheas can be submitted in one container if from same flock/batch and have similar clinical signs and gross findings
Swab
Tracheal swabs from larynx and proximal trachea should be submitted in viral transport media (PBGS) and with clear labels on bird and tissue sampled. Use sterile swabs Submit chilled Paediatric swabs can be used for small birds As the diagnosis is a flock diagnosis, up to five swabs can be pooled per test sample. Pooling is done at the lab to ensure individual testing can occur if necessary. Dead birds securely packed (i.e double bagged and in a rigid container that is clearly labelled as suspect infectious laryngotracheitis) can be submitted and swabbed at the laboratory. The carcass will be put on hold for further testing pending results. Clinically affected birds should not be submitted live due to risk of contagion. A full detailed necropsy, if required, will be charged to submitter.

Please Note

Infectious laryngotracheitis is a notifiable endemic disease of poultry
Fees for tests undertaken to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of infectious laryngotracheitis are paid by NSW Department of Primary Industries. Extra testing to establish an alternative diagnosis is at submitters’ expense.
Always clearly label specimens as Suspect infectious laryngotracheitis. Pack securely and forward separately from any other specimens.
Advise the laboratory Customer Services of your submission and place a warning under the lid of the outer packaging. This will ensure specific biosecurity precautions are undertaken at the laboratory.
Strains of ILT vary greatly in their pathogenicity therefore clinical signs can vary from mild upper respiratory tract disease to conjunctivitis, sinusitis, sneezing, coughing, gasping, depression and death. Mortality can vary from a <5 % to >70% in less than a week. Affected birds have reduced egg production.
Outbreaks require a source of infection such as proximity to other infected chickens, recent introductions of infected carriers, or possible transmission of virus on material, equipment (including egg trays), vehicles, contaminated litter or feed, personal clothing etc.
ILT is not transmitted via the hatching egg.
Vaccination of commercial poultry is common. The vaccines are live attenuated strains, carriers are well recognised, and excretion of vaccine virus can occur with other stressors or respiratory diseases. Vaccination may cause mild respiratory signs.

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPI's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

For Edible oil & oilseed or Feed quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wagga Wagga on (02) 6938 1957

For Plant nutrition, Soil health or Water quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wollongbar on (02) 6626 1103

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the SVDL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568