Development of a Model of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea in Microminipigs. Issue 5 (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kawaguchi, Hiroaki; Horie, Masayuki; Onoue, Koki; Noguchi, Michiko; Akioka, Kohei; Masatani, Tatsunori; Miura, Naoki; Ozawa, Makoto; Tanimoto, Akihide
• Is Part Of: Veterinary pathology. Volume 56:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 711
• Page End: 714
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: pigs -- intestine -- porcine epidemic diarrhea virus -- small animal model -- swine -- pathology; Veterinary pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Veterinary -- Periodicals; 636.089607
• DOI: 10.1177/0300985819839236
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-9858

Abstract

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) induces an often fatal gastrointestinal disease in piglets. In this study, we performed a PEDV infection experiment with the Microminipig, the smallest of experimental minipigs, as a novel small animal model. We orally inoculated a neonatal Microminipig with an intestinal homogenate of a PEDV-infected pig and housed it in a small cage originally designed for rats in an animal biosafety level 2 facility. The infected Microminipig showed the typical signs of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), such as watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss. We also recognized a high amount of excreted PEDV in its rectal swabs and villus atrophy of the small intestine. These results suggest that the Microminipig is a good small animal model for PED, which may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of PEDV.