Inactivation and mechanisms of chlorine dioxide on Nosema bombycis

Biological tests demonstrated that the inactivation of Nosema bombycis (N. bombycis) spores by chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) occurs very fast and is highly sensitive. The lowest effective inactivation dosage and time was 15 mg/mL for 30 min. The inactivation of spores was additionally verified by using double color fluorescence stain and spore germination testing. A series of biological changes, including a large number of substrates that were leaked out from the spores included proteins, DNA, polysaccharide, K⁺, and Ca²⁺, occurred a short time after N. bombycis spores were treated with ClO₂. In addition, the lipid of spores was disrupted and ATPase activity was inhibited, which resulted in the destruction of the inner structure of the spores.