Susceptibility of an avian pneumovirus isolated from Minnesota turkeys to physical and chemical agents

Survival characteristics of a Minnesota avian pneumovirus (APV) isolated fr om a turkey nasoturbinate, propagated in tissue culture, and exposed to var ious physiochemical treatments were determined. These characteristics inclu ded survivability under various conditions. Specifically, APV was viable at temperatures of -70 C and -20 C for over 26 wk, 4 C for less than 12 wk, 2 0 C for less than 4 wk, 37 C for 48 hr, and 50 C for less than 6 hr. In add ition, APV survived 12 freeze/thaw cycles with no loss of activity. With a variable pH for 1 hr, the titer was unaffected between the levels of pH 5 a nd 9. Several disinfectants, including quaternary ammonia, ethanol, iodopho r, a phenol derivative, a biguanide, and bleach, were all effective in redu cing the viability of the virus. After 7 days of drying at room temperature , the APV remained viable and was recovered on cell culture.