Effective control of the emerging PEDV G2-c variant with an inactivated autogenous vaccine

Background Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is one of the most significant pathogens threatening the swine industry, causing severe economic losses in China. PEDV exhibits a high mutation rate, which may compromise the protective efficacy of currently available commercial vaccines. Results This report describes a PED outbreak occurring from February to April 2025 in a southern Hunan swine farm, resulting in approximately 3,000 neonatal piglet deaths within 1 week of birth. We isolated a PEDV strain (XWF/2025) from infected piglet intestinal contents, which phylogenetic analysis classified within the G2-c subgroup. An inactivated autogenous vaccine using intestinal tissues from infected piglets was rapidly developed, evaluated and administered to all sows in the affected unit. Remarkably, piglet mortality rates decreased significantly within 2 weeks post-vaccination. Serological analysis demonstrated substantial increases in anti-PEDV neutralizing antibody titers following vaccination compared to pre-immunization levels. This represents a successful application of an autogenous inactivated vaccine for emergency PED control, providing a safe and effective approach. Conclusions Our findings offer valuable insights for combating PED outbreaks through rapid, farm-specific vaccine development.