Abstract

We used an in vitro system to evaluate the effects of a phenolic disinfectant (Environ LpH^®) on chronic wasting disease-associated prion (PrP^CWD) in brain tissue from naturally infected mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). A suspension of homogenized brain tissue from CWD-infected mule deer was exposed to a 5% LpH solution for 15 or 30 minutes, then centrifuged; suspensions of the same homogenized brain tissue without LpH exposure, as well as a suspension of CWD-negative brain tissue, served as controls. After centrifuging, we examined pellets of various exposure groups by western blot (WB) for evidence of banding typically associated with PrP^CWD. Phenolic disinfectant treatment did not affect WB performance. After 15 minutes exposure to 5% LpH, WB banding patterns were partially eliminated as compared to positive controls; after 30 minutes exposure, PrP^CWD-associated bands were completely eliminated. Our findings are consistent with previous in vivo studies of LpH efficacy in inactivating scrapie-associated prion.¹ Use of WB may be an efficient alternative to more time-consuming in vivo approaches for evaluating candidate prion inactivating compounds.

Literature Cited

1.  Ernst, D. and Race, R. 1993. Comparative analysis of scrapie agent inactivation methods. J Virol Meth. 41:193–202.