Nature of the surviving plaque-forming unit of reovirus in water containing bromine

Abstract

The initial inactivation of reovirus in water containing 3 to 7 microns M bromine as HOBr was very rapid. Electron microscopy revealed extensive physical damage to the virions in as little as 1 min, but none were degraded beyond recognition. As treatment time continued, the reaction rate decreased toward a plateau of resistance, usually at about the 10-4 survival level; still no particles were lost. Progeny grown from these resistant plaque-forming units (PFU) were no more resistant to HOBr than the parent cultures. Small-number aggregation (adhering groups of two to ten virions counted by electron microscopy) had no detectable effect on the level of persistant PFU. Large aggregates seemed to be involved. Sonic treatment at 20 kHz after bromine exposure increased survival PFU titer 10- to 43-fold. Virus exposed to light centrifugation prior to bromine treatment did not show the plateau of resistance. Surviving PFU sedimented faster in a shallow sucrose gradient than single virions. Large aggregates were apparently too few to be counted by electron microscopy, but their penetration and inactivation must be achieved by any disinfectant chosen to rid water of reovirus.