The sera biochemistry profile along the time course of infection (Additional file 1) showed decreased albumin (at 1 dpi, P = 0.039), total proteins (at 1 dpi, P = 0.009), glucose (at 2 dpi, P = 0.024), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL, at 1 dpi, P = 0.046; 2 dpi, P = 0.003 and 6 dpi, P = 0.041), alanine transaminase (ALT, at 1 dpi, P = 0.030 and 6 dpi, P = 0.001) and porcine IgM (at 2 dpi, P = 0.012 and 6 dpi, P = 0.008). Here, GPT is linked to infection.