Ascaris suum eggs were inactivated in distilled water and digested sludge by butanoic, pentanoic, and hexanoic acids. The fatty acids (short-chain fatty acids [SCFA]) were effective only when protonated and at sufficient concentrations. The conjugate bases were not effective at the concentrations evaluated. Predictions from an inhibition model (50% inhibitory concentration [IC 50 ]) based on quantitative structure-activity relationships were congruent with inactivation data.The nematode Ascaris lumbricoides releases highly resistant, unembryonated eggs into the environment, causing ϳ1.3 billion illnesses worldwide (12). The swine parasite Ascaris suum is routinely used as a surrogate for the human parasite (22) and is often found in sludges. Due to its resistance to biocontrol mechanisms (6) Ascaris is a model organism for developing environmentally safe disinfection methods (7,22). The eggs can be rendered nonviable through natural processes using extreme heat (Ͼ40°C) or with UV radiation (4). The use of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) is another possible method of controlling Ascaris. The toxicity of SCFA to bacteria, e.g., Escherichia coli (9), Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus (20), fungi (14, 23), insects (15), and birds (13) a Letters after viability measurements denote statistically significant differences among the percentages of viable eggs when compared to the water controls which were conducted with each round of testing (data not shown). The overall average percent survival for the water controls was 90.3 Ϯ 2.7%. Data marked "a" were tested with the Proc Mix of SAS (P Ͻ 0.01). Data marked "b" were tested with the Student t test (P Ͻ 0.05). SD, standard deviation.b ND, not done.