ILT and ART in poultry

Updated 19.05.2025

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) has not been detected in Norwegian commercial poultry flocks since 1971. Avian rhinotracheitis (ART) was found in a broiler breeder flock in 2003 and in a layer breeder flock in 2004, but has never been detected in Norwegian turkeys.

The goal of the surveillance programmes is to document that Norwegian chicken flocks are free of infection with ILT and that Norwegian turkey flocks are free of infection with ART, and to ensure that this status is maintained.

Background

ILT is a respiratory tract infection of chickens. The disease is caused by an alpha herpesvirus, and is endemic in commercial poultry flocks in large parts of the world, including most European countries. ILT has not been detected in Norwegian commercial chickens since 1971, however, the disease is endemic in backyard flocks, causing sporadic outbreaks with clinical disease.

ART is a highly contagious, respiratory disease in turkeys and chickens, caused by an avian metapneumovirus. ART has been found in most European countries, and sporadically in out neighboring countries. In 2003 antibodies against ART was detected in a Norwegian broiler breeder flock, and in 2004 in a layer breeder flock. It was not possible to control the disease by culling of affected birds, and in 2005 chickens were excluded from the surveillance programme for ART.

2023

Surveillance based on serological investigations to monitor infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) in chickens and avian rhinotracheitis (ART) in turkeys in 2023 did not detect antibodies against gallid herpesvirus 1 (ILT virus, ILTV) or avian metapneumovirus (aMPV).

Download report

ILT and ART in poultry 2023 (pdf 439kb)

Previous reports

ILT and ART in poultry 2022 (pdf 437kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2021 (pdf 436kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2020 (pdf 524kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2019 (pdf 595kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2018 (pdf 561kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2017 (pdf 350kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2016 (pdf 558kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2015 (pdf 1mb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2014 (pdf 9mb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2013 (pdf 696kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2011 (pdf 861kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2010 (pdf 589kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2009 (pdf 678kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2008 (pdf 714kb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2007 (p. 125) (pdf 6mb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2006 (p. 123) (pdf 3mb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2005 (p. 113) (pdf 4mb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2004 (p. 115) (pdf 4mb)
ILT and ART in poultry 2003 (p. 113) (pdf 6mb)