Impact of dietary spray-dried bovine plasma addition on pigs infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus

Duffy, Mark A; Chen, Qi; Zhang, Jianqiang; Halbur, Patrick G; Opriessnig, Tanja

The farm of origin was tested on a monthly basis for PEDV RNA on representative fecal samples and for PEDV antibodies on selected serum samples and had no history of clinical diarrhea. The farm of origin was also free of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), influenza A virus (IAV), and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Before shipment to the research facility, the pigs received a one dose commercial PCV2 vaccine (Merck Animal Health, Inc.). The pigs were transported to the research facility at Iowa State University, randomly assigned to one of three groups of three to eight pigs, and housed in separate rooms on solid concrete floors (Table 1) . Upon arrival of the pigs in the research facility, they were tested negative for PEDV antibodies in serum and PEDV RNA in fecal samples. The experimental design is summarized in Figure 1 . Briefly, the pigs were inoculated with PEDV at 3 wk of age (day postinoculation or dpi 0), and all pigs were necropsied at dpi 14.