From the Guidelines
Sapovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes acute gastroenteritis, primarily affecting children under five years old, and is a member of the Caliciviridae family, similar to norovirus. According to the updated norovirus outbreak management and disease prevention guidelines 1, Sapovirus, previously referred to as Sapporo-like viruses (SLVs), is a genus within the Caliciviridae family that causes acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in persons. The virus is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, and symptoms typically include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and sometimes fever, lasting for 1-4 days.
Key characteristics of sapovirus include:
- Belonging to the Caliciviridae family, which also includes norovirus, Lagovirus, Vesivirus, and Nebovirus 1
- Causing acute gastroenteritis, primarily in children under five years old
- Transmission through the fecal-oral route, via contaminated food, water, or direct contact with an infected person
- Symptoms lasting for 1-4 days, including diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and sometimes fever
Prevention and treatment strategies for sapovirus infections focus on:
- Proper handwashing, especially after using the bathroom and before handling food
- Proper food handling practices
- Disinfecting contaminated surfaces with bleach-based cleaners, as the virus can survive on surfaces for extended periods 1
- Supportive treatment, focusing on preventing dehydration through fluid replacement, as there are no specific antiviral medications for sapovirus.
From the Research
Definition and Prevalence of Sapovirus
- Sapovirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, responsible for approximately 4% of acute gastroenteritis episodes in Europe 2.
- It is a genus in the Caliciviridae family, alongside norovirus, and is increasingly recognized as an important cause of childhood diarrhea 3.
- The prevalence of sapovirus varies between 1 and 17% of diarrhea episodes worldwide, with the highest burden in young children and older adults 3.
Symptoms and Clinical Presentation
- Sapovirus causes acute gastroenteritis (AGE) which manifests as severe diarrhea and vomiting 4.
- Symptoms resemble those seen with rotavirus, but with a milder clinical course 4.
- Patients with immunocompromised states are at increased risk of developing sapovirus infection, which can lead to persistent diarrhea and chronic viral shedding in some individuals 2.
Transmission and Risk Factors
- Sapovirus can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route, and outbreaks have been reported in nosocomial settings 5.
- Breastfeeding and higher socioeconomic status are associated with reduced incidence of infection and illness 6.
- Coinfections with other enteric pathogens, such as rotavirus, astrovirus, adenovirus, and Shigella, are common in specimens with sapovirus detected 6.
Treatment and Prevention
- There is no specific treatment for sapovirus infection, and management is typically focused on relieving symptoms and preventing dehydration 2.
- Reduction of immunosuppressant therapy has been shown to lead to clinical improvement and relief of symptoms in immunocompromised patients 2.
- Nitazoxanide has been used as an effective therapy to achieve reduction in time to resolution of symptoms in some cases 2.