Survival of SA11 Rotavirus in Fresh Fruit Juices of Pineapple, Papaya, and Honeydew Melon

Abstract

Survival of rotavirus in fresh fruit juices of papaya (Caraca papaya L.), honeydew melon (Cucumis melo L.), and pineapple (Ananas comosus [L.] Merr.) was studied. Clarified juices were prepared from pulps of ripe fruits and sterilized by ultrafiltration. One milliliter of juice from each fruit was inoculated with 20 μlof 1 × 106 PFU of SA11 rotavirus and sampled immediately (0-h exposure) and 1 and 3 h later at 28°C. Mean viral titers in juices of papaya (pH 5.1) and honeydew melon (pH 6.3) at 1 and 3 h were not significantly different from titers at 0-h exposure. Mean viral titers in juices from pineapples with ripening color indices of 3 (pH 3.6) and 6 (pH 3.7) at 1-h exposure (color index 3: 4.0±1.7 × 104; color index 6: 2.3±0.3 × 105) and 3-h exposure (color index 3: 1.1±0.4 × 104; color index 6: 1.3±0.6 × 105) were significantly lower than titers at 0-h exposure (color index 3: 5.7±2.9 × 105; color index 6: 7.4±1.3 × 105). Virus titers in pineapple juices of color index 3 were significantly lower than titers of the virus in juices of index 6. In cell culture medium (pH 7.4), SA11 titer remained stable over 3 h at 28°C. However, at pH 3.6, the virus titer was reduced to a level not significantly different from that of the virus in pineapple juice of color index 6 (pH 3.7). In conclusion, papaya and honeydew melon juices, in contrast to pineapple juice, have the potential to transmit rotavirus. Inactivation of SA11 virus in pineapple juice can be possibly attributed to low pH and constituent(s) in the juice.