Comparative inactivation of six enteroviruses by ozone

Viruses occur in the intestinal tract of humans and may be discharged in large numbers with feces. One of the major routes of potential transmission of these enteric viruses is water. Grabowl reporlrri that more than 100 distinct srrotypes of enteric viruses may be found in raw wastewater. Many of these viruses belong to the group known as enteroviruses. This group consists of three major types of viruses: polio, coxsackie. and echo. The enteroviruses are characterized by being approximately 20-30 nm in diameter, having a single-stranded RNA core and having an icosahedral form of cubic: symmetry.‘The overall structure and the replication cycle of these viruses are believed to be very similar. However, minor differences in the nature of the protein coat and the genome of the nucleic acid exist among various serotypes. These minor differences may contribute to any observed differences in the responses 01 the serotypes to various disinfecting