Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus (PEDV) is a globally emerging and re-emerging epizootic swine virus that causesmassive
economic losses in the swine industry, with high mortality in piglets. In Vietnam, PED first emerged in 2009 and has now
developed to an endemic stage. This is the first cross-sectional survey performed to evaluate the proportion of PEDV-positive
swine farms in Vietnam from January 2018 to February 2019. Fecal samples from 327 pig farms in northern Vietnam were
collected and tested for PEDV infection by reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) method.
The proportion of PEDV-positive farms was 30.9% and PEDV-positive farms were distributed throughout the study area. The
highest proportion of PEDV-positive farms was 70%(7/10) among nucleus production type farms (P < 0.05). Higher proportions
of PEDV-positive farms were found in the Northeast and Red River Delta areas, which are the major areas of pig production
(P < 0.05). The proportion of PEDV-positive farms was higher among larger farms (P < 0.05). Our findings illustrate the high
proportion of PEDV-positive farms in the Vietnamese pig population and will help to better understand the epidemiological
dynamics of PED infection, to estimate impact, and establish and improve prevention and control measures. |
