The sporicidal activity of chlorine dioxide gas on Paenibacillus larvae spores
"American Foulbrood Disease devastates honey bee hives by infecting and propagating in developing honey bee larvae. Although the disease has been characterized for decades, treatment strategies outside of burning infected hives do not exist. This study was conducted to determine whether chlorine dioxide gas kills spores of the honey bee pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American Foulbrood Disease. Chlorine dioxide was highly effective at preventing germination of spores suspended in water and spores adhered to pine, steel, and bees wax" "Sporicidal efficacy was dependent on treatment time and gas concentration with effective ClO2 concentrations of 645 ng/ml for 30 min, 195 ng/ml for 1 h, 21 ng/ml for 2 h, or 16 ng/ml for 4 h. Treatment of surfaces with 230 ng/ml ClO2 for one h or 195 ng/ml ClO2 for 2 h completely inactivated P. larvae spores. "