Abstract
Background: Sapovirus has emerged as a viral cause of acute gastroenteritis. However, there are insufficient data about the presence of this virus among children with acute gastroenteritis. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of sapovirus in children with acute gastroenteritis by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 100 children patients with acute gastroenteritis from outpatient clinics with excluded bacterial pathogens and parasitic infestation. A stool sample was collected from each child for laboratory examination. Each stool sample was subjected to study by direct microscopic examination, study for rotavirus by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and the remaining sample was subjected to RNA extraction and RT- PCR for sapovirus. Results: The most frequently detected virus was rotavirus by ELISA (25%). RT-PCR detected sapovirus in 7% of the stool samples. The children with sapovirus were all from rural regions and presented mainly during the winter season in Egypt (42.9%). The main presenting symptoms were fever (71.4%) and vomiting (57.1%). None of the children with sapovirus had dehydration. Rotavirus was significantly associated with sapovirus infections in 5 patients (71.4%, P=0.01). There was an insignificant difference between symptoms of gastroenteritis in children with sapovirus and children with gastroenteritis without sapovirus as regards vomiting (P=0.7), fever (P=0.46), and abdominal pain (P=0.69). Conclusion: The present study highlights the emergence of sapovirus as a frequent pathogen associated with acute gastroenteritis in children. There is a need for a national survey program for the study of sapovirus among other pathogens associated with acute gastroenteritis for better management of such infection.
Highlights
Sapovirus is a single strand non enveloped RNA virus that belongs to the Caliciviridae family1–4
Study design and participants The present study was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 100 children patients with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) from outpatient clinics from Mansoura Children’s Hospital, Mansoura, Egypt within the previous 48 hours with excluded bacterial pathogens and parasitic infestation by microbiological culture and microscopic examination to exclude parasites
Each child was subjected to full medical history by asking the parents about the residence area and age of the child, which was followed by clinical examination
Summary
1. Marta Diez Valcarce , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA. Page , National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Johannesburg, South Africa. Any reports and responses or comments on the article can be found at the end of the article. All the requested by the reviewers were carried out. A few minor comments that I would like to make, and some edits that I consider necessary for clarity and accuracy. Any further responses from the reviewers can be found at the end of the article
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