The effects of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) with sodium hydroxide on swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV), an enterovirus were studied. Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) with 0.1% NaOH showed a stronger effect against SVDV than other QACs with 0.1% NaOH. The effect of DDAC with 0.1% NaOH was strong at 40 degrees C. DDAC was effective against SVDV at pH values around 11.0, but not in the distilled water control. The effect of DDAC with 0.1% NaOH was already observed at 1 min after mixing of the DDAC with SVDV. Observation under an electron microscopy revealed that the probable mechanism of inactivation of DDAC with 0.1% NaOH is as follows: The virus particles were partially destroyed by 0.1% NaOH. DDAC gathered these affected particles and formed a micelle, then SVDV lost its infectivity. From these results, QACs with 0.1% NaOH are considered to be very effective against SVDV representing enteroviruses.