How has PEDV evolved ten years after its arrival in the United States?
U.S. PEDV sequence analysis showed predominance of non-S-INDEL viruses and two recent clades, while limited contemporary sequencing constrained stronger conclusions.
U.S. PEDV sequence analysis showed predominance of non-S-INDEL viruses and two recent clades, while limited contemporary sequencing constrained stronger conclusions.
Problem: U.S. PEDV genomic knowledge has largely reflected the epidemic period following its 2013 introduction, leaving more recent evolutionary dynamics less well characterized.
Methods: The authors analyzed 556 Spike sequences generated from 2013–2024 and 313 complete genomes from 2013–2017 spanning 21 states.
1. Of the Spike sequences, 499 were non-S-INDEL and 57 were S-INDEL, confirming predominance of non-S-INDEL viruses in this dataset.
2. Nearly all post-2017 non-S-INDEL sequences clustered into two recent geographically distinct clades, while several clades observed during the epidemic period had no detected descendants in contemporary data.
3. Because relatively few recent sequences were available, the authors emphasize that more systematic genomic surveillance is needed before concluding that older clades have truly disappeared or precisely quantifying inter-regional viral exchange.
Original publication
Herrera da Silva JP et al. Current Evolutionary Dynamics of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) in the U.S. a Decade After Introduction. Viruses. 2025;17:654.