[Effect of silver compounds on viruses in water]

Two commercial substances, Certisil and Micropur, containing microbicidal silver compounds and destinated for decontamination as well as preservation of water were examined for virus inactivating activity against ECBO-, influenza A, Newcastle Disease, pseudorabies and vaccinia viruses in drinking water. In the recommended concentration as well as higher concentrated the lability of the viruses was increased by the silver compounds. This activity which cannot be designated as a true virucidal effect was clearly evident in the case of ECBO and vaccinia viruses, moderate on influenza and pseudorabies viruses but insignificant on Newcastle disease virus. Two combined silver compounds, Certisil-Combina and Sanosil, each containing an immediate microbicidal part besides silver differed in their antiviral activity. The chlorine separating part of Certisil-Combina didn't cause an improvement or acceleration of the destabilizing effect on viruses compared to the pure silver compound, while the hydrogen peroxide part of Sanosil led to a better and continuing inactivating influence on the viruses which were merely reduced in infectivity by 99,9% within one day. Only in the case of evident or suspected contamination of water reservoirs by viruses the addition of a combined silver drug with oxygen separating part seems to be useful.