Effects of quaternary ammonium compounds with 0.1% sodium hydroxide on swine vesicular disease virus.

The effects of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) with sodium hydroxide on swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV), an enterovirus were studied. Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) with 0.1% NaOH showed a stronger effect against SVDV than other QACs with 0.1% NaOH. The effect of DDAC with 0.1% NaOH was strong at 40 degrees C. DDAC was effective against SVDV at pH values around 11.0, but not in the distilled water control. The effect of DDAC with 0.1% NaOH was already observed at 1 min after mixing of the DDAC with SVDV. Observation under an electron microscopy revealed that the probable mechanism of inactivation of DDAC with 0.1% NaOH is as follows: The virus particles were partially destroyed by 0.1% NaOH. DDAC gathered these affected particles and formed a micelle, then SVDV lost its infectivity. From these results, QACs with 0.1% NaOH are considered to be very effective against SVDV representing enteroviruses.