Effect of rotavirus vaccine on Sapporo virus gastroenteritis in Finnish infants.
BACKGROUND
Sapporo-like viruses (SLVs) occur worldwide, but there is limited information about the SLV-associated gastroenteritis outside Japan.


METHODS
Stool specimens from 1,432 episodes of gastroenteritis that occurred in children between 2 months and 2 years of age during a rotavirus vaccine trial (776 episodes in placebo-vaccinated and 656 in rotavirus-vaccinated infants) were examined for SLVs using a reverse transcription-PCR assay. The reverse transcription-PCR took advantage of new primers specific for Sapporo virus genetic clusters I, II and III; SV/SV82 (SV/Sapporo virus 82); SV/Lond92 (SV/ London 92); and SV/PV (Parkville virus).


RESULTS
SLVs were detected in association with 132 (9.2%) of all episodes; in 80 (5.6%) episodes SLV was the only gastroenteritis virus detected. The epidemic season of SLVs peaked from March to May concurrently with rotaviruses and astroviruses and overlapping withNorwalk-like viruses. Clinically SLV gastroenteritis was characterized by a mild diarrheal disease, being sharply different from the Norwalk-like virus-associated "winter vomiting disease." Rotavirus vaccination did not have any effect on the number of SLV episodes, but the intensity and duration of SLV-associated diarrhea were reduced in rotavirus-vaccinated children compared with placebo-vaccinated children (P = 0.0008).


CONCLUSIONS
SLVs are common causative agents of acute gastroenteritis in young Finnish children. SLV disease is characterized by diarrhea, which is usually mild but can be severe. By an unknown mechanism rotavirus vaccine seems to reduce the severity of SLV-associated diarrhea.
Pang
X L
XL
Department of Virology, University of Tampere, Medical School, Finland.
Zeng
S Q
SQ
Honma
S
S
Nakata
S
S
Vesikari
T
T
D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000821:virology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D029341:Sapovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012621:Seasons
D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines