Control of Emerging and Re-emerging Poultry Respiratory Diseases in the United States

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The control of emerging and re-emerging poultry respiratory diseases in the United States is a major challenge facing scientists and producers. Our project will focus on performing ongoing surveillance of respiratory disease and the major viral etiologies. Our efforts will then focus on understanding how viruses cause respiratory disease and how the diseases may be prevented or controlled to sustain poultry health. A major emphasis will be placed on three classic viral diseases that continue to cause widespread disease, infectious laryngotracheitis and infectious bronchitis or pose a threat, avian influenza virus. Laboratory in vitro studies will be combined with animal studies to develop the best data for basing conclusions that will lead to improved prevention and control measures.

<P>

APPROACH: <BR> 1. Identify reservoirs of infectious respiratory disease agents in wild birds and poultry. Delaware will perform surveillance of avian influenza virus in wild aquatic birds, backyard poultry and commercial poultry. (Gelb, Ladman, and Bautista). Delaware will conduct surveillance of infectious laryngotracheitis virus, infectious bronchitis virus, Newcastle disease virus, infectious bursal disease virus (immunosuppressive agent). (Bautista, Dohms, Gelb, Keeler, Ladman, Ruano) <BR><BR>2. Develop improved diagnostic capabilities including real time PCR as well as other rapid on-farm tests for economically important respiratory diseases. Delaware will identify key ILTV gene targets for diagnostic application (Schmidt, Keeler, Parcells, and Ruano). <BR><BR>3. Investigate the pathogenesis and polymicrobial interactions of specific infectious agents associated with poultry respiratory diseases (this includes interactions with underlying immunosuppressive agents). Delaware will evaluated the pathogenicity of avian influenza virus isolates for various poultry species. (Gelb, Ladman, Pope). Delaware will develop an ILTV transmission model for comparing isolates, reference strains and CEO vaccines (Ruano and Gelb). Delaware will characterize the pathogenic and antigenic properties of IBDV field strains (Gelb, Ladman and Bautista).<BR><BR> 4. Develop new prevention and control strategies for poultry respiratory diseases. Delaware will evaluate the efficacy of IBV vaccines to protect vs. variant virus challenge (Gelb, Ladman, and Pope). Delaware will evaluate the efficacy of recombinant vaccines to protect vs. ND and ILT challenges (Bernberg, Morgan, Gelb, and Ladman).