EFFICACY OF NUCLEIC-ACID PROBES FOR DETECTION OF POLIOVIRUS IN WATER DISINFECTED BY CHLORINE, CHLORINE DIOXIDE, OZONE, AND UV-RADIATION

MilliQ water was inoculated with poliovirus type 1 strain LSc-1 and wa s treated with disinfectants, including chlorine, chlorine dioxide, oz one, and UV light. No relationship between probes and plaque assays we re seen, demonstrating that viral nucleic acids were not destroyed. Th ese findings suggest that nucleic acid probes cannot distinguish betwe en infectious and noninfectious viruses and cannot be used in the eval uation of treated waters.