Survival of avian influenza viruses in filtered and natural surface waters of different physical and chemical parameters

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) survival was studied in five basins of different physical and chemical parameters of water, including pH, temperature and salinity. Places are known for the considerable aggregation of wild waterfowl. After 1:1000 dilution H6N2 isolate with titer 10(1.63) EID50/0.1 ml water and A/duck/England/56 H11N6 with titer 10(3.83) EID50/0.1 ml water were used. Survival did not exceed 24 It at 9.34 pH, reached one week at the highest salinity and more than 2 weeks at close to tap water physical and chemical characteristics. Presence of living microorganisms in some waters further reduced AIV survival (with 12.5 % in H6N2 and with 14.29 % in A/duck/England/56 H11N6 in the waters with microorganism count as small as 8,9. 10(4) cells/ ml). When microorganism count was high (6,64.10(6) cells/ml and 5,2.10(6) cells/ml) the period of survival was with 40 % and 35.71 % shorter. Titer values in waters containing microorganisms were with 0.17 log(10) EID50/0, 1 ml to 2.16 log(10) EID50/0,1 ml lower.