Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus in Commercial and Backyard Chicken Production Systems in Central and South Ethiopia (First report) ILT in Ethiopian Poultry Production

Abstract

SUMMARY: Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILT) affects the respiratory tracts of chickens with profound effects in the world poultry industry. The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with ILT. The overall prevalence for ILT was 19.4% of which 13.3% (66/496) and 34.4% (74/215) accounted for commercial and backyard poultry production systems, respectively. The prevalence was significantly different between commercial and backyard poultry production systems (P < 0.05). Study areas, breed, and purpose had no significant effect on the prevalence of ILT in commercial production systems. However, study areas significantly affect (P < 0.05) the prevalence in backyard production systems. The mean antibody titer was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in backyard production system (mean = 1209.9) over commercial production systems (mean = 334.1). As the first report in Ethiopia, this study revealed that ILT is prevalent in the country with a higher prevalence in chickens raised in backyard production systems. This indicates further studies are encouraged to determine the role of backyard chickens in the epidemiology of ILT in Ethiopia and develop vaccine(s) to prevent and control the disease.

Keywords

• backyard
• commercial
• ILT
• prevalence