title: Incidence, diversity, and molecular epidemiology of sapoviruses in swine across Europe.
abstract: Porcine sapovirus is an enteric calicivirus in domestic pigs that belongs to the family Caliciviridae. Some porcine sapoviruses are genetically related to human caliciviruses, which has raised public health concerns over animal reservoirs and the potential cross-species transmission of sapoviruses. We report on the incidence, genetic diversity, and molecular epidemiology of sapoviruses detected in domestic pigs in a comprehensive study conducted in six European countries (Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain) between 2004 and 2007. A total of 1,050 swine fecal samples from 88 pig farms were collected and tested by reverse transcription-PCR for sapoviruses, and positive findings were confirmed by sequencing. Sapoviruses were detected in 80 (7.6%) samples collected on 39 (44.3%) farms and in every country. The highest prevalence was seen among piglets aged 2 to 8 weeks, and there was no significant difference in the proportion of sapovirus-positive findings for healthy animals and animals with diarrhea in Spain and Denmark (the only countries where both healthy animals and animals with diarrhea were tested). On the basis of the sequence of the RNA polymerase region, highly heterogeneous populations of viruses representing six different genogroups (genogroups III, VI, VII, and VIII, including potential new genogroups IX and X) were identified, with a predominance of genogroup GIII (50.6%). Genogroup VIII, found in five of the six countries, had the highest degree of homology (up to 66% at the amino acid level) to human sapovirus strains. Sapoviruses are commonly circulating and endemic agents in swine herds throughout Europe. Highly heterogeneous and potential new genogroups of sapoviruses were found in pigs; however, no "human-like" sapoviruses were detected.
authors: Regional Laboratory of Virology, ANTSZ Regional Institute of State Public Health Service, Szabadság út 7, Pécs H-7623, Hungary. reuter.gabor@ddr.antsz.hu
authors: Gábor
authors: G
authors: Reuter
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Zimsek-Mijovski
authors: Mateja
authors: M
authors: Poljsak-Prijatelj
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Di Bartolo
authors: Franco Maria
authors: FM
authors: Ruggeri
authors: Tuija
authors: T
authors: Kantala
authors: Leena
authors: L
authors: Maunula
authors: István
authors: I
authors: Kiss
authors: Sándor
authors: S
authors: Kecskeméti
authors: Nabil
authors: N
authors: Halaihel
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Buesa
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Johnsen
authors: Charlotte K
authors: CK
authors: Hjulsager
authors: Lars E
authors: LE
authors: Larsen
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Koopmans
authors: Blenda
authors: B
authors: Böttiger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D015994:Incidence; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D029341:Sapovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases