Access the roundtable discussion on Poultry Health Today. 

Welcome

The evolution of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a continuing challenge for poultry producers and veterinarians. In broilers, this highly infectious coronavirus can present in its traditional form as respiratory disease, predisposing birds to secondary bacterial infections. Relatively newer on the scene are potentially deadly nephropathogenic IBV strains. In any form, IBV impairs animal welfare and is an important source of economic loss for poultry producers.

Vaccination is key to IBV control. Although homologous vaccines are considered to be the most effective, development of a new vaccine for every new IBV strain that emerges is difficult to impossible. Finding an effective existing vaccine or combination of vaccines that will cross-protect is a worthwhile venture, but there’s no guarantee of success.

Zoetis recently hosted a roundtable featuring renowned IBV experts as well as practitioners who shared their knowledge about IBV. These proceedings are highlights from the conversation and are provided with the hope they will help the industry achieve better control of IBV, improve animal welfare and minimize IBV’s financial burden.

JON SCHAEFFER, DVM, PhD
Director, Poultry Technical Services, Zoetis
email zoetisus.com/poultry