Viability of sARs-CoV-2 Coronavirus strains on Different types of test surfaces, in Drinking Water and Their Resistance to Disinfectants

The purpose of the research was to study the dynamics of residual infectious activity of SARS-CoV-2 virus strains belonging to different genovariants, on different types of surfaces, in samples of drinking dechlorinated water at 24–28 °C, as well as their resistance to disinfectants. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out using SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strains obtained from the State Collection of Causative Agents of Viral Infectious Diseases and Rickettsiosis, which operates at the premises of the SSC VB “Vector”. The evaluation of the residual infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was carried out through titration of samples in cell culture. Results and discussion. The conducted studies have confirmed the ability of all investigated strains of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus to maintain their infectious activity at 24–28 °C on most of the examined types of test surfaces for at least 48 hours, while the virus is best preserved on stainless steel and plastic. All studied strains of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus are viable in drinking dechlorinated water for at least 48 hours. In addition, it has been found that all of them are sensitive to disinfectants of different groups, widely used for disinfection when working with pathogenic biological agents or for treating hands and surfaces contaminated with viruses. Chlorine-containing disinfectants are the most active. Skin antiseptics based on ethyl and isopropyl alcohols are suitable for disinfecting hands and objects contaminated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. © 2022 Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute. All rights reserved.

Assessment of the viability of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus on various types of test surfaces, as well as in drinking and sea water

The aim of this study was to determine the dynamics of the residual infectious activity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on various types of surfaces, including banknotes and coins, in samples of drinking dechlorinated water and samples imitating seawater, with a concentration of sodium chloride salts of 0.9 and 3.5 % at a temperature of 24–28 ºC. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out using the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strain nCoV/Victoria/1/2020, from the collection of the SSC VB “Vector”, the initial titer being (6.0±0.2) lg TCD50/ml. We used a Vero E6 cell culture from the collection of the SSC VB “Vector” in the form of a 2-day monolayer with a confluence of 95–100 %, grown in 96-well culture plates. Results and conclusions. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is viable in both fresh and sea water, regardless of its salinity, for at least 48 hours, and the degree of preservation of the residual infectious activity of the virus depends on the water temperature: the lower it is, the better the virus is preserved. It was found that at a temperature of 24–28 C, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is able to maintain infectious activity on all types of test surfaces studied for at least 48 hours, while the degree of the residual infectious activity of the virus depends on the type of surface. The virus is best preserved on stainless steel, plastic and glass. It is demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 virus activity is retained on the surface of paper money and coins for longer than 24 hours. The conducted studies have confirmed the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus to maintain its infectious activity in the environment under favorable conditions and, accordingly, to pose an epidemiological threat to the population. © 2021 Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute. All rights reserved.