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The effect of various physical and chemical agents on the stability of TC visna virus was studied. It was found, that storage at −50° C for several months and repeated freezing and thawing did not cause a significant loss of titer. At temperatures from 0° to 47° C the infectivity was gradually lost, the 90 per cent inactivation period being from 30 days to 27 minutes. Heating at 57° C for 28 minutes inactivated the virus completely. The virus was found to be most stable at slightly alkaline pH. It was easily inactivated by formaldehyde, ethyl alcohol and phenol. Ethyl ether and trypsin were also found to cause inactivation of visna virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monocaprin is a 1-monoglyceride of capric acid that has antimicrobial activity against enveloped viruses, certain bacteria, and the yeast Candida albicans. Solutions containing monocaprin were formulated and tested in vitro against a number of micro-organisms, including species found in the oral cavity and common pathogenic species. The antimicrobial activity of monocaprin was tested with strains growing on a surface as well as in the planktonic phase. Micro-organisms tested were: Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, Lactobacillus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Two sets of dilutions were prepared for each test strain; one to be inoculated with the micro-organism growing in the planktonic phase and the other with the same strain growing on a filter paper disk. Control solutions were also prepared to find out if any of the excipients were affecting the microbicidal effect of monocaprin. Test strains growing on the filter paper surface were less sensitive to monocaprin than the same strain growing in its planktonic phase. C. albicans was the micro-organism that was most sensitive to monocaprin, but S. mutans also showed appreciable sensitivity. The indication that monocaprin may have potential as a topical agent against Candida was tested in an open study of denture disinfection in 32 patients attending a geriatric daycare centre. A significant, but short-term, reduction in counts of Candida on the fitting surface of full dentures was observed.