The National Pork Board has issued its targeted call for research proposals addressing targeted issues associated with porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV). Please note, this is an emergency RFP with a significantly abbreviated timeline. The deadline for RFP submission is: Tuesday, April 22 – 5:00 pm CDT
PEDV and PDCoV research needs/priorities:
- Evaluate the INDEL PEDV strains compared to the initial highly virulent strains and determine if they are cross-protective.
- Study of the basic pathogenesis and characterization of PDCoV in pigs of different ages (neonates, weaned piglets and adults):
- Describe the pathogenesis of PDCoV
- The infectious dose of PDCoV
- The incubation period for PDCoV
- Clinical signs for PDCoV
- Duration of shedding post-infection
- Determination of carrier state
- Development and standardization of PDCoV viral propagation techniques and bioassay methods for diagnostic testing.
- Determine the survivability of PDCoV in/on various substrates (including feed and feed ingredients) and at various temperatures.
- Develop, validate and continue to analyze PEDV and PDCoV antibody-based diagnostic tests for serologic, oral fluid monitoring, evaluation of immune status and for surveillance.
- For herds with previous exposure to PEDV and PDCoV, determine the duration of immunity and ability to protect the herd at the next farrowing. Is this protection age/parity dependent?
- After an initial outbreak, determine the type of immune protection sows provide to piglets:
- Evaluate if protection is age/parity dependent.
- Develop protocols for optimizing lactogenic immunity.
- Evaluate and define the B cell responses in mammary tissue and in the gut that might be protective.
All proposals need to be completed within 6 months of funding and bi-weekly updates will be required in a format that can convey progress and information to the pork industry.