A Review of the Advanced Immunogens for the Protection of Poultry Flocks Against Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus

Infectious laryngotracheitis virus is a member of a family of herpes viruses causing infection in avian species. It is a deadly virus that causes infection in multiple species of avians causing respiratory and ocular infections. ILT virus causes high mortalities, morbidities and economic losses in commercial poultry flocks. Traditionally, ILT is managed by the vaccination through live attenuated viruses synthesized either through tissue culturing or passaging through chicken embryos. The viral vector vaccines are also now commonly used commercially. Recent research highlights novel immunogenic candidates, which include viral vectors, genome-attenuated viruses, subunit vaccines, and DNA particles. The results of these vaccines have been tested in in vivo environment and they are providing sufficient levels of immunity against ILT. Further research is needed to remove the constraints of these vaccines to be used commercially.