TABLE 3.
Decay rates of various bacteriophages in natural waters
| PHS | Decay rate (% h−1) | Expt treatment | Assay | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coliphages | ||||
| MS2 | 5.2–4.4 | FWb | Viablea | 107 |
| F-RNAΦ | 3.5 | FW | ||
| MS-2 | 1.2–32.5 | GWc | Viable | 377 |
| Coliphagen | 0.4 | SWd | Viable | 46 |
| 0.18 | Filt.e SW | |||
| 0 | AcSWf | |||
| φX174n | 15 | SW | Viable | 190 |
| 20 | Filt. SW | |||
| T7n | 4–1.4 | EWg | Viable | 213 |
| T7n | 3–1 | SW | Viable | 27 |
| 0.8–0.5 | SW+clay | |||
| T2n | 6.7–4.8 | ASW,h SW | Viable | 105 |
| 1.6–1.2 | ASW, SW+clay | |||
| Aquatic bacteriophages | ||||
| 9 marine PHS | 1 | SW | Viable | 194 |
| 9 marine PHS | 0.7 | SW | Viable | 197 |
| 0.2 | Filt. SW | |||
| UT1 | 5.4 | FW | Viable | 220 |
| 2.7 | Filt. FW | |||
| LB1VL-P1b | 2.5 | SW | Viable | 318 |
| PWH3a-P1 | 1.4 | SW | ||
| Both phages | 40–80 | SW (sl)i | ||
| PWH3a-P1 | 0.7–0.85 | SW (sl), | Viable | 357 |
| Filt. SW (sl) | ||||
| MpVo | 0.4–0.25 | SW (d)j | Viable | 62 |
| 30–28 | SW (sl) | |||
| 6 | ASW(sl) | |||
| CB 7Φ | 3.7 | ASW(d) | Viable | 369 |
| CB 38Φ | 5.2 | ASW(d) | ||
| 11 | ASW(sl) | |||
| Both phage | 2.8 | ASW(sl+d) | VDCj | |
| H series (4 marine PHS) | 6.6–11 | SW(sl), Filt. SW(sl), AcSW (sl) | Viable | 215 |
| SW(d), FSW(d), AcSW | ||||
| ca. 3.9 | (d) | |||
| PR series (4 marine PHS) | 4.1–7.2 | SW(sl), Filt. SW(sl), AcSW (sl) | ||
| ca. 3.85 | SW(d), Filt. SW(d), AcSW (d) | |||
| S-PWM 1 and 3 | 25–65 | Filt. SW(sl) | Viable | 101 |
| Viroplankton loss | ||||
| Viroplankton (Danube River) | 6–8 | SW+KCNk, initial 4 h (5–15°C) | VDC | 176 |
| 8–15 | SW+KCN, initial 4 h (18–25°C) | |||
| 2–5 | SW+KCN >5 h (all T°C) | |||
| Virioplankton (Santa Monica, Calif.) | 5.5 | SW+KCN (d) | VDC | 97 |
| 6.9 | SW+KCN (sl) | |||
| Virioplankton (Ranuefjorden, Norway) | 54 | SW+KCN(sl) | VDC | 120 |
| 30 | SW+KCN(dph)m | |||
| Virioplankton (Gulf of Mexico, Tex.) | 2.2–3.0 | SW(sl), Filt. SW(sl) | Viable | 101 |
| 0.14–0.5 | SW (d), Filt. SW (d) | |||
| Virioplankton (Gulf of Mexico, Tex.) | 1–2.5 | SW+KCN (sl) | VDC | 357 |
a
Decay assessed through loss of viable phage titer.
b
Freshwater.
c
Groundwater.
d
Natural seawater.
e
0.22-μm-pore-size filtered.
f
Autoclaved or heated seawater.
g
Estuarine water.
h
Artificial seawater.
i
Sunlight.
j
Dark.
k
Natural seawater with added potassium cyanide.
l
Surface water.
m
At depth.
n
Decay rate calculated from viral titers given in reference.
o
Virus of Micromonas pusilla.