The loss of poliovirus 1 infectivity in marine waters

The loss of infectivity (LOI) of poliovirus 1 in marine water from the Gulf of Mexico was studied. Typically, three logs of infectivity were lost in 5–6 days at 24°C. Experiments described in this report suggested that this LOI was not a result of container adsorption or virion aggregation: nor was a resistant component within the stock virus found that would have explained the two-component curves often observed with the virus loss. Viral infectivity loss occurred in raw, filter-sterilized, and autoclaved marine water. Loss was also observed when the virus was suspended in artificial seawater of 1, 10 and 20 g kg⁻¹ salinity. No explanation for the LOI other than true inactivation of the virion was found. The specific component(s) of marine water responsible for virion inactivation remains to be ascertained.