Origin, Evolution, and Virulence of Porcine Deltacoronaviruses in the United States

Ma, Yuanmei; Zhang, Yu; Liang, Xueya; Lou, Fangfei; Oglesbee, Michael; Krakowka, Steven; Li, Jianrong

PdCV MI-infected piglets resulted in a multisystemic distribution of virus, with the highest virus load in the intestinal tract and evidence of fecal viral shedding based upon real-time RT-PCR analysis of viral RNA levels ( Fig. 7B and C) . High levels of viral RNA (6 to 9 log 10 viral RNA copies/g or ml) were detected in feces (Fig. 7B ) and all sections of the small and large intestines, whereas a relatively low level of viral RNA (3 to 4 log 10 viral RNA copies/g or ml) was detected in other tissues (Fig. 7C) . The two uninoculated Gn piglets infected by indirect contact had levels of viral RNA (Fig. 7D ) similar to those of the three virusinoculated piglets.