From the Guidelines
Saptovirus is a genus of viruses within the family Caliciviridae that causes acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in persons, previously referred to as Sapporo-like viruses (SLVs). The characteristics of saptovirus include being a nonenveloped, single-stranded RNA virus, which is similar to noroviruses, but belongs to a different genus within the same family 1. Some key points about saptovirus include:
- It causes acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in persons 1
- It is a nonenveloped, single-stranded RNA virus 1
- It belongs to the family Caliciviridae, which also includes noroviruses, lagoviruses, vesiviruses, and neobviruses 1
- The transmission and prevention strategies for saptovirus are likely similar to those for noroviruses, including good hand hygiene, proper food handling, and exclusion of ill individuals from certain settings 1. Given the lack of specific information on saptovirus in the provided study, the management and prevention of saptovirus infections are likely to be similar to those for noroviruses, focusing on supportive care, hygiene practices, and outbreak control measures 1.
From the Research
Definition and Classification of Saptovirus
- Saptovirus, also known as Sapovirus, is a genus in the Caliciviridae family, which causes acute gastroenteritis in humans and animals 2.
- It is a common cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, responsible for approximately 4% of acute gastroenteritis episodes in Europe 3.
- Sapoviruses are highly diverse genetically and antigenically, making laboratory diagnosis essential to identify the pathogen 2.
Clinical Symptoms and Diagnosis
- The clinical symptoms of sapovirus gastroenteritis are indistinguishable from those caused by noroviruses, making laboratory diagnosis crucial 2.
- Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays are widely used for sapovirus detection from clinical specimens due to their high sensitivity and broad reactivity 2.
- Sapovirus infection can lead to persistent diarrhea and chronic viral shedding in immunocompromised individuals, making diagnosis and treatment challenging 3.
Epidemiology and Transmission
- Sapovirus is a common cause of childhood diarrhea, with a prevalence of 1-17% of diarrhea episodes worldwide 4.
- The highest burden of sapovirus infection is in young children and older adults, with breastfeeding and higher socioeconomic status associated with reduced incidence of infection and illness 5.
- Sapovirus can be transmitted through contaminated food, water, and surfaces, as well as through person-to-person contact 2.
Treatment and Prevention
- There is no specific treatment for sapovirus infection, but reduction of immunosuppressant therapy and use of nitazoxanide have shown some effectiveness in managing symptoms 3.
- Further research is needed to develop new approaches to clear the infection and prevent persistent diarrhea in immunocompromised individuals 3.
- Breastfeeding and improved socioeconomic status may help reduce the incidence of sapovirus infection and illness 5.