Persistence of invertebrate iridescent virus 6 in tropical artificial aquatic environments. Brief report.
The rate of loss of activity of invertebrate iridescent virus 6 (IIV-6, family Iridoviridae) was determined in two artificial aquatic habitats in southern Mexico, using a sensitive insect bioassay technique. IIV-6 placed in trays of water in direct sunlight suffered rapid loss of activity (99.99% reduction) over a period of 36 h, during which water temperatures fluctuated between 24 and 41 degrees C. No significant deactivation occurred during the hours of darkness. In contrast, IIV-6 placed in trays of water in the shade lost 97% of original activity over a 60 h period, during which water temperatures fluctuated from 24 to 31 degrees C. Longitudinal analysis involving mixed effects models of time (shade) and cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) indicated that the rate of deactivation was best described by third order polynomial equations in both cases. We conclude that the likelihood of transmission of IIVs in aquatic habitats will be mediated by the intensity of UV radiation and water temperature.
Hernández
A
A
ECOSUR, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico.
Marina
C F
CF
Valle
J
J
Williams
T
T
D000818:Animals; D004777:Environment; D007304:Insect Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007313:Insecta / Q000821:virology*; D007564:Japan; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000821:virology; D008800:Mexico; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014871:Water Microbiology