Infectivity of Prion Protein Bound to Stainless Steel Wires: A Model for Testing Decontamination Procedures for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

Abstract

At the time of submission of this article, only the group of hamsters incubated with wires reprocessed with an alkaline detergent, followed by sterilization with a modified cycle in a hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilizer (4 injections), showed no clinical signs of disease and remained alive. Two animals from the group receiving sodium hydroxide followed by autoclaving (at 134 degrees C for 18 minutes) died. Furthermore, the tested enzymatic cleaning agent seemed to have no positive effect.