Effect of prehumidification on sampling of selected airborne viruses.

Abstract

Studies were undertaken to determine if a prewetting device (humidifier bulb) used in combination with an all glass impinger (AGI-30) would increase the recovery of airborne mengovirus-37A, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and the S-13 coliphage. Suspensions of T3 coliphage with mengovirus-37A, VSV, or S-13 were aerosolized and collected by using the AGI-30-humidifier bulb combination to sample the aerosols before and after shifts in relative humidities (RH). These studies revealed the following. (i) At low RH values there was a 3 to 4 log increase in recovery of airborne T3 phage; (ii) concomitantly, the recovery of mengovirus-37A and VSV decreased; and (iii) only at the mid-range RH values was the recovery of S-13 enhanced. The prehumidification technique significantly increased the recovery of airborne T3 phage but decreased the recovery of the two animal viruses tested.

• Authors: J C Warren, T G Akers, E J Dubovi
• Journal: Applied microbiology (Appl Microbiol) Vol. 18 Issue 5 Pg. 893-6 (Nov 1969) ISSN: 0003-6919 [Print] United States
• PMID: 4313171 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Aerosols

Topics

• Aerosols
• Air Microbiology
• Coliphages (isolation & purification)
• Encephalomyocarditis virus (isolation & purification)
• Humidity
• Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus (isolation & purification)
• Viruses (isolation & purification)