A NOTE ON THE DESTRUCTION OF PORCINE ENTEROVIRUSES IN ANAEROBIC DIGESTIONS

Porcine enteroviruses serotypes F17, F26 and F78, suspended in Earle's balanced salt solution, were placed in dialysis tubing in stirred-tank, continuous-flow piggery waste digesters operating at 35 and 60 degree C. In the mesophilic digester there was a rapid decrease in titre in the first few hours and the virus was largely deactivated in 1 to 2 days. However, some virus persisted for about 9 days. In the thermophilic digester the virus was totally inactivated in 1 h. Virus was also added to the liquid of a batch digester at 5 degree C. Inactivation was similar to that in the continuous digester. Temperature was probably the principal factor involved in inactivation of the virus, but comparison with temperature control tests showed that other factors probably played a part.