Laboratory-scale inactivation of African swine fever virus and swine vesicular disease virus in pig slurry

Two methods were evaluated for the inactivation of African swine fever (ASV ) and swine vesicular disease (SVD) viruses in pig slurry: chemical treatme nt: and heat treatment. The addition of NaOH or Ca(OH)(2) at different conc entration/time combinations at 4 degrees C and 22 degrees C was examined, a s was virus stability at different temperature/time combinations. ASF virus (ASFV) was less resistant to both methods than SVD virus (SVDV). In slurry from one source, ASFV was inactivated at 65 degrees C within 1 min, wherea s SVDV required at least 2 min at 65 degrees C. However, it was found that thermal inactivation depended on the characteristics of the slurry used. Ad dition of 1% (w/v) of NaOH or Ca(OH)(2) caused the inactivation of ASFV wit hin 150 s at 9 degrees C; 0.5% (w/v) NaOH or Crt(OH), required 30 min fur i nactivation. NaOH or Ca(OH)(2) (1% (w/v)) was not effective against SVDV at 22 degrees C after 30 min, and 1.5% (w/v) NaOH or Ca(OH)(2) caused inactiv ation of SVDV at both 4 degrees C and 22 degrees C. At higher chemical conc entrations or temperatures, ASFV and SVDV inactivation was faster in slurry than in buffered medium.