DISINFECTION OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS AND MS-2 COLIPHAGE IN WATER BY ULTRAVIOLET-IRRADIATION - COMPARISON OF UV-SUSCEPTIBILITY

Ultraviolet irradiation is gaining importance as a disinfection proced ure for drinking water and in waste water treatment. Since water is on e of the main transmission routes of hepatitis A virus the susceptibil ity of HAV to UV rays is of special interest. MS-2 coliphage resembles HAV in size and structure, is easy to handle, and might therefore ser ve as indicator organism for the assessment of water quality and for e valuating the quality of water treatment processes. Hepatitis A virus and MS-2 coliphage were suspended in 0.9% sodium chloride solution and were irradiated in a 20-ml quarz cuvette at 254 nm. For a reduction r ate of four log units a three times higher UV dose was required with M S-2 than with HAV.