Molecular Epidemiology of Sapovirus in Children Living in the Northwest Amazon Region

Sapovirus is an important etiological agent of acute gastroenteritis (AGE), mainly in children under 5 years old living in lower-income communities. Eighteen identified sapovirus genotypes have been observed to infect humans. The aim of this study was to identify sapovirus genotypes circulating in the Amazon region. Twenty-eight samples were successfully genotyped using partial sequencing of the capsid gene. The genotypes identified were GI.1 (n = 3), GI.2 (n = 7), GII.1 (n = 1), GII.2 (n = 1), GII.3 (n = 5), GII.5 (n = 1), and GIV.1 (n = 10). The GIV genotype was the most detected genotype (35.7%, 10/28). The phylogenetic analysis identified sapovirus genotypes that had no similarity with other strains reported from Brazil, indicating that these genotypes may have entered the Amazon region via intense tourism in the Amazon rainforest. No association between histo-blood group antigen expression and sapovirus infection was observed.Funding Agencies|Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research CouncilEuropean Commission [2017-01479, 2018-02862]; Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES) [88881.337140/2019-01]; National Council for Scientific and Technological DevelopmentConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPQ); Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro-FAPERJFundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio De Janeiro (FAPERJ); Oswaldo Cruz Institute-IOC (PAEF)