Since the introduction of the PED virus (PEDV) in the Unites States, millions of piglets have died, according to James Collins of the University of Minnesota in a report for Pork Checkoff.

Key items are needed to be address to further initial PEDV research, such as development of PEDV propagation techniques, creating PEDV reference samples to share to the research community, and having a reliable PCR test to aid in control and prevention of PEDV.

A PEDV strain obtained from NVSL has been successfully grown in Vero cells. Additionally, a PEDV field strain obtained from a swine diagnostic case submitted to the University of Minnesota VDL has been adapted to grow in cells.

Now that PEDV has been successfully isolated in vitro, efforts are underway to develop serological assays (IPMA and IFA) for the detection of PEDV antibodies. PEDV-positive intestine and faecal samples have been deposited in the University of Minnesota Infectious Agent Depository, with additional PEDV samples to be deposited in the future. The samples will be available to PEDV researchers for future assay development and research.

Complete genome sequences have been obtained from 13 PEDV strains found in the United States swine population. These American PEDV strains were genetically similar, with 99.8 to 100 per cent nucleotide identity.

However, phylogenetic analyses indicate the emergence of two distinct American PEDV clades.

As PEDV continues to spread throughout the US, PEDV strain variation is expected to increase.

A comparison between the University of Minnesota VDL PEDV qRT-PCR and a commercial PEDV detection kit (Life Technology) indicated superior performance by the University of Minnesota VDL qRT-PCR.

The commercial kit missed several positive PEDV samples, all of which were confirmed PEDV positive by a secondary University of Minnesota VDL RT-PCR assay targeting the N gene.

October 2014