title: Inactivation of transmissible degenerative encephalopathy agents: A review.
abstract: The unconventional agents that cause transmissible degenerative encephalopathies, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, scrapie, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), are relatively resistant to inactivation by standard decontamination procedures. The only methods that appear to be completely effective under worst-case conditions are strong sodium hypochlorite solutions or hot solutions of sodium hydroxide. Other procedures that result in significant degrees of inactivation are described. The infectivity levels in histologically-fixed tissue can be reduced substantially by treatment with concentrated formic acid without adversely affecting the microscopic quality of the tissue.
authors.affiliation: Neuropathogenesis Unit, Institute for Animal Health, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JF, UK. david-taylor@bbsrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D003666:Decontamination; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary; D011328:Prions / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
chemical_list: D011328:Prions; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite