Evaluation of the effects of disinfectants on rotavirus RNA and infectivity by the polymerase chain reaction and cell-culture methods.
Rotaviruses have been linked to outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis of children in day-care centres and hospital paediatric wards. There is, therefore, the need for monitoring effective decontamination of such environments. We have evaluated the effects of seven different methods of disinfection/inactivation (four chemical and three physical) on rotavirus using the PCR and cell-culture methods. We observed that 6% H2O2, 2500 ppm chlorine, an ethano-phenolic disinfectant, u.v. irradiation and heat completely destroyed the infectivity of rotavirus as well as RNA amplifiable by PCR. On the other hand, treatment with 80% ethanol resulted in the loss of infectivity despite the fact that RNA was still amplifiable. Rotavirus subjected to drying over a 24 h period still retained amplifiable RNA but infectivity was reduced by 100-fold when compared to the control. This study demonstrated an agreement between PCR and cell-culture monitoring systems, however, PCR is a more rapid and sensitive assay.
Ojeh
C K
CK
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, MD 21287-4933, USA.
Cusack
T M
TM
Yolken
R H
RH
D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
D004202:Disinfectants; D012367:RNA, Viral