Comparison of UV inactivation of spores of three encephalitozoon species with that of spores of two DNA repair-deficient Bacillus subtilis biodosimetry strains

When exposed to 254-nm UV, spores of Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, and Encephalitozoon hellem exhibited 3.2-log reductions in viability at UV fluences of 60, 140, and 190 J/m(2), respectively, and demonstrated UV inactivation kinetics similar to those observed for endospores of DNA repair-defective mutant Bacillus subtilis strains used as biodosimetry surrogates. The results indicate that spores of Encephalitozoon spp. are readily inactivated at low UV fluences and that spores of UV-sensitive B. subtilis strains can be useful surrogates in evaluating UV reactor performance.

Development and optimization of a quantitative cell culture infectivity assay for the microsporidium Encephalitozoon intestinalis and application to ultraviolet light inactivation

Microsporidia are unique parasites recognized as a major cause of intestinal illness among immunocompromised patients and occasionally in otherwise healthy hosts. These organisms have been detected in water and are likely transmitted by the fecal-oral route. The most common human pathogenic microsporidia for which cell culture methods have been established is Encephalitozoon intestinalis. This study describes the development of a quantitative cell culture infectivity assay for E. intestinalis and its application to assess inactivation by ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The method described here employs calcofluor white, a fluorescent brightener that targets the chitin spore wall, to visualize groups of developing spores in order to confirm infectivity. Serial dilutions of the spore suspension were seeded into tissue culture well slides containing RK-13 cells. Slides were then rinsed, fixed in methanol and stained with calcofluor white and examined microscopically. Large masses of developing spores were easily visible on infected cell monolayers. Positive and negative wells at each dilution step were used to quantify the number of infectious spores in the original suspension using a most-probable-number (MPN) statistical analysis. This assay was used to evaluate the disinfecting potential of ultraviolet light on E. intestinalis spores in water. The ultraviolet dose required for a 3-log(10) or 99.9% reduction in the number of infective spores was determined to be 8.43 mW s/cm(2).

Low- and medium-pressure UV inactivation of microsporidia Encephalitozoon intestinalis

Newly recognized waterborne pathogens such as microsporidia are being detected in the world's water supplies with increasing frequency. Many of these organisms have been shown to cause negative health impacts for both immunocompetent as well as immunocompromised individuals. It is imperative that these emerging pathogens be investigated for their ability to resist both traditional and novel disinfection technologies that are currently in use or under consideration for drinking water treatment. Low- and medium pressure UV light is at the cutting edge of disinfection technologies for the drinking water industry. While previous UV disinfection studies have focused on the inactivation of Cryptosporidium and Giardia as well as viruses and common bacteria, this research reports the ability of low- and medium pressure UV light to inactivate > 3.6 log10 of microsporidia Encephalitozoon intestinalis spores at a dose of 6 mJ/cm2 or higher as determined using a cell culture approach.

Effects of gamma radiation on viability of Encephalitozoon spores

Spores of Encephalitozoon cuniculi, E. hellem, and E. intestinalis harvested from cultured mammalian cells were suspended in deionized water, exposed to gamma irradiation at doses of 0-3.0 kGy, and then tested for infectivity by inoculating spores into monolayer cultures of Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells. The cultures were examined for developing microsporidia 4 days later. As the dosage level of radiation increased, corresponding decreases were observed in the number of developing microsporidia for all 3 species. For E. cuniculi and E. intestinalis, 100% inhibition of development was observed after exposure to 1.5 and 2.0 kGy, respectively. Although development of E. hellem was greatly inhibited (97.6% inhibition) after exposure to 3.0 kGy, complete inhibition was not obtained. These findings provide a baseline for investigating the dose levels required to render food products safe when kept under varying temperature, moisture, and other storage conditions.