IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DETECTION OF PORCINE EPIDEMIC DIARRHEA VIRUS COMPARED TO OTHER METHODS

An immunohistochemistry method using formalin-fixed tissues, a direct immunofluorescence method using cryostat sections, an enzyme-linked im munosorbent assay (ELISA), and a PCR method were compared for diagnosi s in a litter of weaned pigs that had been experimentally inoculated w ith wild-type porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and killed betwee n 6 and 60 h after onset of diarrhea. The immunohistochemistry method proved to be as reliable as direct immunofluorescence for diagnosis of PEDV in tissues collected postmortem. The good reliability of ELISA f or investigating clinical samples was confirmed, whereas the PCR metho d used was ineffective.