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Volume 25, Number 5—May 2019
Research

Formaldehyde and Glutaraldehyde Inactivation of Bacterial Tier 1 Select Agents in Tissues

Jennifer Chua1Comments to Author , Joel A. Bozue1, Christopher P. Klimko, Jennifer L. Shoe, Sara I. Ruiz, Christopher L. Jensen, Steven A. Tobery, Jared M. Crumpler, Donald J. Chabot, Avery V. Quirk, Melissa Hunter, David E. Harbourt, Arthur M. Friedlander, and Christopher K. CoteComments to Author 
Author affiliations: United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA

Main Article

Table 2

Formaldehyde fixation of infected spleen, liver, and lung tissue from guinea pigs in study of inactivation of bacterial Tier I Select Agents*

Infectious agent, tissue type Maximum tissue weight, g Maximum tissue size, mm Maximum CFU/g Fixation time, d Sample inactivation Positive control
Bacillus anthracis Ames (inhalational and intramuscular), n = 3
Spleen 1.04 20 × 20 × 6 1.1 × 109 13 –/–† +
Liver 1.78 20 × 10 × 10 9.8 × 107 13 –/–† +
Lung
 1.14
 20 × 20 × 10
 2.1 × 108; 5.5 × 104 (heat resistant)
 13
 –/–†
 +
Burkholderia pseudomallei 1026b, n = 4
Spleen 0.81 20 × 15 × 10 7.5 × 108 13 –/–‡ +
Liver 2.15 20 × 15 × 10 1.4 × 107 13 –/–‡ +
Lung
 1.56
 20 × 15 × 10
 4.0 × 107
 17–18
 –/–‡
 +
Francisella tularensis Schu S4, n = 3
Spleen 1.50 15 × 15 × 10 9.3 × 109 13 –/–§ +
Liver 2.29 25 × 13 × 11 9.5 × 107 13 –/–¶ +
Lung
 1.30
 15 × 13 × 11
 4.3 × 108
 13
 –/–¶
 +
Yersina pestis CO92, n = 3
Spleen 0.96 15 × 10 × 8 1.4 × 1010 13 –/–§ +
Liver 2.09 30 × 15 × 10 1.1 × 109 13 –/–¶ +
Lung 1.81 25 × 20 × 15 7.0 × 108 13 –/–¶ +

*<4 guinea pigs were infected with 1 Select Agent. Tissues were excised and then measured, weighed, and plated for CFU. Tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for the indicated time, rinsed for 30 min in phosphate-buffered saline, and then homogenized. +/– indicates presence or absence of growth in broth/on plates.
†100% of sample tested.
‡50% of sample tested.
§90% of 1 sample tested, 10% of others tested.
¶10% of sample tested.

Main Article

1These authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: April 18, 2019
Page updated: April 18, 2019
Page reviewed: April 18, 2019
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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