Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a viral respiratory disease caused by an herpesvirus of chickens and some other gallinaceous birds (e.g. pheasants, peafowl). It is an economically significant disease in commercial egg producing flocks, with an essentially global distribution. In regions where ILT is endemic, the commercial poultry industry is faced with multimillion-dollar losses as a result of mortality, egg production losses, and decreased bird growth [1].
