that PEDVs <*> were clustered with the variant strains of PEDV in genotype IIa .
The most frequent mutations were present in the collagenase equivalent ( COE ) and epitope regions of the spike gene of the PEDVs
Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PEDVs circulating in Southern China during the last 7 years were clustered with the variant strains of PEDV in genotype IIa .
The most frequent mutations were present in the collagenase equivalent ( COE ) and epitope regions of the spike gene of the PEDVs currently circulating in the field .