Characterization of Virucidal Activities of Chlorous Acid

Abstract

Virucidal effects of chlorous acid on enveloped and non-enveloped viruses were characterized. The virucidal activity was prominent against the enveloped viruses. However, some viruses among non-enveloped viruses, such as human rhinovirus and feline calicivirus, showed significant sensitivity to the reagent while the other, poliovirus and coxsackievirus, showed weak sensitivity, suggesting the presence of two classes of sensitivity among non-enveloped viruses against the reagent. In addition, characterization of the mode of inactivation by the reagent revealed that this inactivation of virus is strongly dependent on virus species, contaminated proteins and composition of solvent system. Comparison of the cytotoxic effects of chlorous acid with those of sodium hypochlorite or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) revealed that chlorous acid was similar to SDS and remarkably weaker than sodium hypochlorite. These results indicate a unique nature of chlorous acid as a potent virucidal agent with tolerable tissue damage and reveal a merit and limitation as a disinfectant in the food hygiene and as a sanitizer in the health care fields.