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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2014; 20(2): 436-444
Published online Jan 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i2.436
Is hepatitis B-virucidal validation of biocides possible with the use of surrogates?
Andreas Sauerbrei
Andreas Sauerbrei, Institute of Virology and Antiviral Chemotherapy, Jena University Clinic, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, D-07745 Jena, Germany
Author contributions: Sauerbrei A acquired, analyzed and interpreted data, drafted and revised the article.
Correspondence to: Dr. Andreas Sauerbrei, Professor, Institute of Virology and Antiviral Chemotherapy, Jena University Clinic, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Hans-Knoell-Straße 2, D-07745 Jena, Germany. andreas.sauerbrei@med.uni-jena.de
Telephone: +49-3641-9395700 Fax: +49-3641-9395702
Received: July 23, 2013
Revised: September 30, 2013
Accepted: November 28, 2013
Published online: January 14, 2014
Processing time: 179 Days and 17.4 Hours
Abstract

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered to be a major public health problem worldwide, and a significant number of reports on nosocomial outbreaks of HBV infections have been reported. Prevention of indirect HBV transmission by contaminated objects is only possible through the use of infection-control principles, including the use of chemical biocides, which are proven to render the virus non-infectious. The virucidal activity of biocides against HBV cannot be predicted; therefore, validation of the virucidal action of disinfectants against HBV is essential. However, feasible HBV infectivity assays have not yet been established. Thus, surrogate models have been proposed for testing the efficacy of biocides against HBV. Most of these assays do not correlate with HBV infectivity. Currently, the most promising and feasible assay is the use of the taxonomically related duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), which belongs to the same Hepadnaviridae virus family. This paper reviews the application of DHBV, which can be propagated in vitro in primary duck embryonic hepatocytes, for the testing of biocides and describes why this model can be used as reliable method to evaluate disinfectants for efficacy against HBV. The susceptibility levels of important biocides, which are often used as ingredients for commercially available disinfectants, are also described.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Surrogate model; Duck hepatitis B virus; Disinfectants; Testing virucidal efficacy

Core tip: There is a need for disinfectants with proven virucidal activity against the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Feasible HBV infectivity assays are not available; therefore, the establishment of surrogate models for HBV infection is of high importance. This paper reviews the application of the most promising and feasible assay, the use of the duck hepatitis B virus, which can be propagated in vitro in primary duck embryonic hepatocytes. The paper also describes how and why this model can be used to evaluate the efficacy of disinfectants against HBV.