Improved method for contamination of mussels by poliovirus

An experimental method for contaminating mussels with poliovirus that approaches natural conditions in a coastal zone is described. A 280 liter aquarium is used to determine optimum conditions for obtaining a maximum titer of virus in mussels. When mussels were kept for 1 h in water contaminated with from 3 to 368 PFU ml-1, between 1 to 628 PFU g-1 tissue were recovered. Mussels exposed to contaminated water for periods of up to 10 days showed decreased titers of virus which seemed to parallel the natural inactivation of viruses in water with time. 1 h of exposure to contaminated water was always sufficient for a maximum adsorption of viral particles by mussels.