Which infectious disease is characterized by significant respiratory symptoms in poultry?

Avian infectious laryngotracheitis is a viral disease primarily affecting poultry, particularly chickens. It is caused by the laryngotracheitis virus, which is an alpha-type herpesvirus. The disease is notable for causing severe respiratory issues in affected birds, including coughing, gasping, and difficulty breathing, which are significant symptoms associated with respiratory distress. Infected birds may also exhibit signs such as nasal discharge and swelling around the eyes.

Understanding the nature of this disease is vital, especially in poultry management and biosecurity practices, as it can lead to significant economic losses in the poultry industry due to decreased productivity and increased mortality rates.

While ornithosis (caused by Chlamydia psittaci) can also affect respiratory health, the hallmark of laryngotracheitis specifically includes acute and severe symptoms with distinctive lesions in the larynx and trachea. Equine herpes virus-1 primarily affects horses, and chronic wasting disease is a prion disease affecting deer and elk, making them unrelated to poultry respiratory symptoms. Thus, avian infectious laryngotracheitis stands out as the correct response due to its direct involvement with respiratory signs in poultry.