Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) can live and be transmitted by feed.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not known
• D. Only in warm climates

Answer: (A)

PEDV can be transmitted through feed because the virus can persist in certain feed ingredients and be ingested by pigs, delivering infection. Outbreak investigations and studies have shown that PEDV can remain viable in feed matrices and that contaminated feed has been linked to transmission events in herds. Survival is influenced by factors such as ingredient type, moisture, temperature, and storage time; while some heat treatments during feed processing can inactivate the virus, other feeding matrices can protect it, allowing it to stay viable long enough to infect. The risk is not restricted to warm climates, so saying it only occurs in warm climates isn’t accurate.