A persistent epidemic of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus infection by serological survey of commercial pig farms in northern Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) is a highly contagious infectious disease with negative economic impacts on the swine industry. PED outbreaks were reported from 2009 to 2015, but sporadic infection has been observed until now in Vietnam. However, the seroprevalence of PEDV infection has not yet been reported for commercial pig farms in Vietnam. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of PEDV infection in Vietnamese pig farms to reveal the endemic status of PEDV in northern Vietnam. RESULTS: A serological survey of PEDV infection was carried out using indirect ELISA in commercial pig farms in Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Thai Binh provinces in northern Vietnam in 2019. Twenty sera were randomly collected from each of 10 commercial pig farms, from each province; none of the farms had vaccinated for PEDV. Serological evidence of natural PEDV infection, expressed as a high antibody titre, was observed in the pig farms in all 3 provinces. The OD values were significantly higher (p < 0.001) for pig sera from Thai Binh than from Hai Duong and Hung Yen. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were detected for seropositivity to PEDV based on locality, age, pig breed and farm size. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates serological evidence of natural PEDV infection with high antibody titre in commercial pig farms. PEDV infection was widespread among the pig population in these 3 provinces and that good management and strict biosecurity are needed at these pig farms.