Microbicidal effects of weakly acidified chlorous acid water against feline calicivirus and Clostridium difficile spores under protein-rich conditions

PLoS One. 2017 May 4;12(5):e0176718. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176718. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Sanitation of environmental surfaces with chlorine based-disinfectants is a principal measure to control outbreaks of norovirus or Clostridium difficile. The microbicidal activity of chlorine-based disinfectants depends on the free available chlorine (FAC), but their oxidative potential is rapidly eliminated by organic matter. In this study, the microbicidal activities of weakly acidified chlorous acid water (WACAW) and sodium hypochlorite solution (NaClO) against feline calcivirus (FCV) and C. difficile spores were compared in protein-rich conditions. WACAW inactivated FCV and C. difficile spores better than NaClO under all experimental conditions used in this study. WACAW above 100 ppm FAC decreased FCV >4 log10 within 30 sec in the presence of 0.5% each of bovine serum albumin (BSA), polypeptone or meat extract. Even in the presence of 5% BSA, WACAW at 600 ppm FAC reduced FCV >4 log10 within 30 sec. Polypeptone inhibited the virucidal activity of WACAW against FCV more so than BSA or meat extract. WACAW at 200 ppm FAC decreased C. difficile spores >3 log10 within 1 min in the presence of 0.5% polypeptone. The microbicidal activity of NaClO was extensively diminished in the presence of organic matter. WACAW recovered its FAC to the initial level after partial neutralization by sodium thiosulfate, while no restoration of the FAC was observed in NaClO. These results indicate that WACAW is relatively stable under organic matter-rich conditions and therefore may be useful for treating environmental surfaces contaminated by human excretions.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calicivirus, Feline / drug effects*
  • Cats
  • Chlorides / pharmacology*
  • Clostridioides difficile / drug effects*
  • Clostridioides difficile / growth & development
  • Humans
  • Rats
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / metabolism
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Spores, Bacterial / drug effects*
  • Thiosulfates / pharmacology

Substances

  • Chlorides
  • Thiosulfates
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • chlorous acid
  • sodium thiosulfate

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the collaboration research fund between Kagawa University and Honbu Sankei Co. Ltd. The study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript was done under discussion between Kagawa University and Honbu Sankei Co. Ltd.