Jennifer Lehr in consultation with Dick Hesse
A virus not previous reported in the United States is causing the death of hundreds of thousands neonatal pigs. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus was first described in England in 1971. Since then it has been the cause of outbreaks of diarrheal disease and death of piglets in Europe and Asia. Most notably a deadly outbreak in China, has been ongoing since 2009. This virus was confirm in the US in May 2013 and is present in Kansas.
PEDV is a coronavirus in the same family as Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus (TGE). Although the clinical signs of these to viruses are very similar, there is no cross protective immunity. PEDV and TGE both cause vomiting and diarrhea in pigs with severity of symptoms ranging from very mild in adult animals to deadly in nursing and recently weaned pigs. In fact 100% mortality in nursery pigs is not uncommon. Therefore this virus will have enormous economic impact on the pork industry.
PEDV is not categorized as a foreign animal disease in the United States. However due to its novel nature and the numerous unanswered questions regarding transmission, organs affected and host immune response to infection, veterinarians are advised to remain vigilant for signs of this disease and submit samples for diagnosis or confirmation of the cause of death in young pigs.
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Fact Sheet Keli Almes
General disease facts:
- The presence of Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) was confirmed in the United States on May 17, 2013.
- Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is caused by a porcine coronavirus and results in vomiting and occasionally diarrhea in sows and gilts and severe diarrhea and vomiting in nursing and recently weaned pigs.
- Clinical signs of PED are indistinguishable from the epidemic form of the disease caused by a different porcine coronavirus, Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus (TGE).
- There is no cross-protection between these two coronaviruses.
- PED is a pig-only disease which does not affect other species or humans and is not a food safety concern.
- PED has been present in Europe and Asia since 1971 but has never previously been reported in the US.
- Within our naïve pig populations morbidity will likely near 100% and mortality may range anywhere from 50-100% in nursing pigs, but is reported to be 1-3% in fattening pigs and negligible in adults.
- Incubation time is typically less than 36 hours and virus is shed in feces for up to 11 days.
- Laboratory diagnosis is required for definitive confirmation.
- Producers should work closely with their veterinarian for sample submission and diagnosis.
Control & prevention:
- Stringent biosecurity and disinfection procedures are the most effective for prevention and control.
- PEDV is susceptible to Clorox, Virkon S, Tek-Trol, and 1 Stroke Environ. Thorough cleaning followed by disinfection and drying is recommended.
- Infection is mainly via the fecal-oral route, but short distance aerosol transmission is possible.
- The virus can remain stable in the environment and travel easily on boots, tires, vehicles, and other fomites.
Diagnostic testing:
- KSVDL is performing Virus Isolation ($35.50) and/or PCR ($28.50) testing on feces and fresh intestinal samples. However, to date all laboratories are reporting that virus isolation is difficult and often yields false negative results, so PCR is recommended for initial diagnosis.
- An additional testing method, in situ hybridization, is in development and will soon be available. This test will be performed on formalin fixed intestine along with histopathologic examination.
Confirmed cases:
- An updated spreadsheet of cases can be found on the AASV website at the following link:
Follow the link below for a disease Fact Sheet and link to American Association of Swine Veterinarians list of States affected by PEDV.