VIRUCIDAL ACTION OF SEA WATER1

Abstract

Surface sea water collected from a rocky coast of the Mediterranean sea in Beirut during the summer of 1964 and winter of 1965 was found to inactivate 103 TCD50/ml of poliovirus, type 1, beyond measureable point in about 6 to 9 days. Sea water after boiling lost a part of its virucidal properties. Long storage at room temperature brought about the same effect. Filtration through Seitz filter pads had no such effect. The major chemicals in solution in sea water showed only slight virucidal properties when observed singly. However, with various combinations, a significant degree of inactivation of the virus was observed at low virus concentrations, but not at high virus concentrations. The effect of artificially prepared sea water on inactivation rate of poliovirus, type 1, was lower than that of natural sea water. Boiling did not modify the virucidal efficiency of artificially prepared sea water. The virucidal property of the sea water was partly due to the chemicals in solution and partly to a heat-labile substane of marine origin.