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Title: The use of bacteriophages of the family Cystoviridae as surrogates for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in persistence and inactivation studies

Author
item ADCOCK, N - EPA, CINCINNATI, OH
item RICE, E - EPA, CINCINNATI, OH
item SIVAGANESAN, M - EPA, CINCINNATI, OH
item BROWN, J - UNIV GA-SCWDS, ATHENS, GA
item STALLKNECHT, D - UNIV GA-SCWDS, ATHENS, GA
item Swayne, David

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Science and Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/26/2009
Publication Date: 11/1/2009
Citation: Adcock, N.J., Rice, E.W., Sivaganesan, M., Brown, J.D., Stallknecht, D.E., Swayne, D.E. 2009. The use of bacteriophages of the family Cystoviridae as surrogates for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in persistence and inactivation studies. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A. 44(13):1362-1366.

Interpretive Summary: Methods to study killing of high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) in water are important in developing disease control strategies, but working with such viruses requires access to limited high biocontainment facilities. We validated using common, non-pathogenic viruses that affect bacteria (bacteriophages) as a surrogate system for studying effect of killing HPAIV in water. Two bacteriophages were found to be useful as surrogates for H5N1 HPAIV in persistence and chlorine inactivation studies in water.

Technical Abstract: Two bacteriophages, phi-6 and phi-8, were found to be useful as surrogates for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in persistence and chlorine inactivation studies in water.