New porcine virus reported in Ohio
Ten samples from four farms tested positive for a new virus.
A new coronavirus has been detected in pigs from four swine farms in Ohio, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed.
Samples were taken from the farms after outbreaks of diarrhoea in sows and piglets in January and early February this year.
Clinical signs were said to be similar to those of porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) and transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) - both of which are caused by coronaviruses.
According to virologist Dr Yan Zhang from the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, all 10 samples taken tested positive for a new virus. Both PED and the new virus were detected in faecal samples from three of the farms.
Further testing showed the new virus is a deltacoronavirus, distinct from PED and TGE.
According to the Department of Agriculture in Ohio, the new virus, which has been named swine deltacoronavirus (SDVC) is closely related to a coronavirus detected in Hong Kong in 2012.
Health officials say SDVC poses no threat to food safety and cannot spread to humans or other species.
According to virologists, further investigation is needed to confirm the new virus is responsible for diarrhoea in pigs.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
