[Gamma ray decontamination of skins and wool contaminated with Bac. anthracis spores]

Studies were carried out to establish the sensitivity of Bacillus anthracis spores in a suspension of physiologic saline and in pelts and wool. Tested were the spores of five B. anthracis strains. The density of spore suspensions was from 1.6 X 10(6) up to 9.0 X 10(9) per cub. cm, and for the pelts and wool the spore count ranged from 7.8 X 10(8) to 5.0 X 10(10) (for the material as a whole). The irradiation was carried out on a device with a 60Co source at a temperature of 15 degrees C and rates of up to 2.75 Mrad. Data showed that the dose necessary to decontaminate infected pelts and wool is 2. 00 Mrad. The water phase of the medium has almost no effect on the sensitivity of B. anthracis spores to gamma rays.