The United States Department of Agriculture has given its stamp of approval to Innovax-ILT, a vaccine that protects poultry against laryngotracheitis for at least 60 weeks.
Dr. Charles Broussard, U.S. poultry technical service director for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, which developed and markets the vaccine, cited the USDA study while stating that one dose of the vaccine was enough to protect broiler breeders and commercial layers. The vaccine reportedly also protects against Marek's disease.
Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a contagious respiratory disease caused by a herpesvirus. It has been a growing problem for poultry producers in North and South America. Symptoms of the disease include decreased water and feed consumption, depression, conjunctivitis and respiratory problems. It also leads to high mortality in flocks.
