Fig. 3
Pathogenicity of the recombinant PEDVs in Gn piglets. a Fecal consistency scores of pigs within 18 dpi. Fecal consistency was scored as follows: 0, solid; 1, pasty; 2, semiliquid; and 3, liquid. Scores of ≥ 2 and 3 were considered diarrhea and severe diarrhea, respectively. Each dot represents the score of an individual pig; each line indicates the mean scores of a group. Pigs with fecal scores greater than 2 were defined as having diarrhea and a score of 3 was severe diarrhea. All pigs in the icPC22A group died by 6 dpi. b PEDV RNA (N gene) shedding titers in rectal swabs within 18 dpi. Each symbol represents the titer of an individual piglet; each line indicates the mean values of a group. The dash line at 4.8 log10 copies/mL indicates the detection limit. c Survival curves of pigs after inoculation by 21dpi. d Villous height to crypt depth (VH: CD) ratios of ileum of piglets euthanized at 3 dpi. Groups with significant differences are indicated with different letters. e Immunohistochemistry staining of PEDV N proteins in the enterocytes of ileum of piglets (magnification, 100 ×). The brown signals, indicated by arrows, represented the PEDV antigens in enterocytes and were observed in the icPC22A- and E191A-P1-inoculated, but not in mock piglets