Comparative Sensitivity of Viruses to Treatment with Diethyl Ether and Sodium Desoxycholate

Abstract

Summary A comparison of the sensitivity of a selected number of viruses to treatment with diethyl ether (DE) and sodium desoxycholate (SDC) gave virtually identical results with each chemical. Both DE and SDC inactivated all ten of the arthropod-borne viruses (representing serogroups A, B and C, and two ungrouped viruses) and two myxoviruses (influenza A and B). In contrast, poliovirus, two Coxsackie viruses, three ECHO viruses, and three adenoviruses were not inactivated by either DE or SDC treatment. The application of these chemicals for categorizing viruses is briefly discussed.