Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University diagnosticians can provide insight about the recently confirmed U.S. cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, or PEDV.

Richard Hesse is a professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology and has studied swine diseases. He is able to discuss biosecurity protocols and is helping the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to proactively monitor and track the porcine virus in the field.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed last week that the virus had been found in Indiana and Iowa. Although these are the first cases in the U.S., the virus has been identified in many countries, including Canada, China, Korea, Japan, England and other European countries.

The virus is a production-related disease and may appear to be the same as transmissible gastroenteritis virus with acute diarrhea. The disease is not zoonotic and poses no threat to humans or other animals. It also poses no risk to food safety. Laboratory testing is the only way to diagnose the virus. Producers who see signs of illness in their pigs should notify their herd veterinarian immediately to address the issue, Hesse said.

Hesse, a member of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, is the director of diagnostic virology at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine. He leads research related to infectious disease pathogenesis and vaccine development. He has developed USDA-licensed vaccines for porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome, or PRRS, and porcine circovirus-associated disease, or PCVAD. He is developing rapid diagnostic assays and vaccines for zoonotic, foreign animal and emerging/re-emerging diseases. Hesse can be reached at 785-532-4457 or rhesse@k-state.edu.

Kelli Almes, veterinary pathologist and director of client services at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, has developed a fact sheet with more information about the virus and control of the disease.  The fact sheet can be viewed on the diagnostic laboratory website under the "News and Videos" section at www.ksvdl.org. Almes can be reached at 785-532-3995 or kalmes@k-state.edu.