Effects of repeated ultraviolet-C radiation on tissues: A Guinea pig model study

Due to the disinfection and antibiotic resistance of microorganisms, there is a growing interest in ultraviolet-C (UV-C). UV-C has numerous advantages, and the applications of this method for fluids, surfaces, and air are rapidly expanding. However, nothing is known about how UV-C affects living bodies. This study's objective is to assess the results of 10 sessions of 10- to 20-minute UV-C exposure on healthy guinea pigs.

After five days of UV-C treatment, blood and visceral organ samples were collected and analyzed.

Moreover, the hematological and biochemical analyses of the blood samples revealed no significant changes. According to histopathological examination, UV-C treatment did not cause any damage to internal organs. Except for the intestine, caspase-3 immunohistochemistry revealed no increase in apoptotic activity. In the UV-C-treated groups, only minor apoptotic activity was observed in intestinal goblet cells.

This study found that repeated UV-C exposure for ten sessions lasting 10-20 minutes did not result in any pathological findings in the guinea pig model. This result suggested that UV-C could be used for barn and pen disinfection when animals are present as well as udder disinfection prior to milking.