Avian rhinotracheitis

Abstract

Turkey rhinotracheitis, now commonly termed avian pneumovirus (APV) infection, is associated with serious welfare and economic problems in susceptible populations of turkeys and probably also of chickens. The infection principally affects the upper respiratory tract, although egg-laying performance may also be affected in breeding turkeys. Secondary infections exacerbate the effects of the primary virus infection. The virus persists for only a short time both in the host and in the environment and is not known to be transmitted via the egg. Highly effective vaccines are available to control APV infections, and hence good biosecurity and careful use of these vaccines should enable infection to be controlled and spread restricted. Diagnosis and surveillance are normally performed serologically using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Several different ELISA kits are available commercially, but these give variable results and are not wholly satisfactory since interpretation of results is difficult.