Disinfection of aqueous suspensions of helminth eggs and intestinal protozoa cysts with an ultrahigh frequency radiator

Introduction. Disinvasion of environmental objects using microwave radiation has recently become increasingly widespread due to the ease of operation and low maintenance costs of the equipment. This indicates to the need to find new methods for assessing their effectiveness. The existing methodology is intended to assess disinvasion after long-lasting exposure to chemical disinfectant solutions and is not intended to assess the effectiveness of disinvasion of a short-term physical factor. We conducted a study during which we developed a new method for assessing the effectiveness of disinvasion when using microwave emitters.

Materials and methods. For the study, aqueous suspensions of Enterobius vermicularis and Dibothriocephalus latus (Diphyllobothrium latum) eggs obtained from sexually mature individuals, and aqueous suspensions of Entamoeba coli cysts and Opisthorchis felineus eggs obtained from faeces, were used. After treatment using a microwave installation, the test and control samples were counted and assessed for the viability of helminth eggs and protozoan cysts. For comparison, the efficiency of disinvasion was also calculated using the formula suggested by A.P. Simonov.

Results. The effectiveness of disinfection against contact parasitosis Enterobius vermicularis, Entamoeba coli using a microwave installation is 98.68% and 99.86%, respectively, according to the Simonov formula and 99.33% and 100.00%, respectively, according to the new formula. The effectiveness of disinfection in calculations using both formulas is comparable, the interpretation of the results coincides and is interpreted as highly effective.

Limitations. Evaluation of disinfection effectiveness by this technique is limited to Enterobius vermicularis, Diphyllobothrium latum, Opisthorchis felineus, Entamoeba coli species and requires testing for other helminths and protozoa.

Conclusion. The effectiveness of exposure to microwave radiation for the invasive stages of contact transmission pathogens (Enterobius vermicularis, Entamoeba coli) was 99–100%, this fact opens up prospects for microwave radiation using for the disinfection of transmission factors of these widespread pathogens.

Compliance with ethical standards. This study does not require the conclusion of a biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Contribution:
Vidmanova M.V. – the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing a text;
Lyamin A.V., Khaliulin A.V. – the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material;
Kaiumov K.A. – processing of material, writing a text, editing;
Kozlov A.V. – the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material;
Yatsenko T.V. – the concept and design of the study;
Ismatullin D.D. – collection and processing of material.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approve of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: February 7, 2025 / Revised: October 6, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: March 13, 2026

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