FIG 6.

Evaluation of the virulence of recombinant viruses icPC22A and icPC22A-S1Δ197 in 5-day-old Gn piglets. Numbers of piglets in each group were as follows: icPC22A, n = 3; icPC22A-S1Δ197, n = 4; mock, n = 2. (A) Fecal consistency scores of individual Gn piglets. Each line represents the mean value in each group. Three icPC22A piglets became moribund and were euthanized at 2 dpi; one icPC22A-S1Δ197-infected diarrheic piglet and one mock-inoculated piglet were euthanized at 3 dpi for histopathological examination. (B) Fecal PEDV RNA shedding profile of each group. Data are shown as mean values ± standard deviations of groups. (C) VH/CD ratios of Gn piglets euthanized at 2 to 3 dpi. (D) Necropsy images show that transparent intestine was observed in the Gn piglet inoculated with icPC22A but not in icPC22A-S1Δ197-infected or mock-inoculated piglets.