Review Article

Prevalence of Human Sapovirus in Low and Middle Income Countries

Table 1

Summary of human SV detection from 33 studies (stool samples) conducted in 14 non-African low and middle income countries.

CountryWorld Bank Classification as of year 2018Study setupPrevalence (seasons or defined period of incidence)Method usedRate of Detected GenotypesReference
Study populationPopulation sizeStudy settingDuration of study

BangladeshLower middle incomeInfants/ Children917HP with AGEFrom 2004 to 2005Oct 2004 – Jan 2005,  
Sept 2005
RT-PCR2.7 % SV 
(All in <3 yrs of age)  
SV-GI.1, GI.2
Dey et al [20]

BrazilUpper middle incomeChildren305HP severe GEFrom March to September 2003March, May - SeptemberRT-PCR15/305 (4.9%), mixed infection of SV and Astv in 1 sample 
SV-GII.1, SV-GI.1, SV-GI.2
Aragao et al [21]
Children (0 – 10 yrs159OP (81 = diar; 78 = non-diar)From April 2008 to July 2010February, AprilRT-PCR2 of 81: 2.5% SV (GI.1, GII.2)Aragao et al [22]
Children (6-55 mn old)539Day Care (Healthy)From October 2009 to October 2011Not definedRT- multiplex PCR25/539 (4.6%) SV,  
SV-GI.1, GI.3
de Oliveira et al [23]
Children, outpatients212 
129
HP 
OP 
With AGE
From 2012 to 2014Not definedQuantitative real-time PCR (qPCR)  12/341 (3.5%) [9/12 – HP, 3/12 – OP].
SV-GI.1 dominant, GI.2, GI.6, GII.1, GV.1
Fioretti et al [24]
Children
< 10yrs
426 
(156 of <3yrs tested)
HP with AGEFrom January 2010 to October 2011Aug & SeptRT-PCR6/156 (3.8%), 
SV-GI.1, GI.2, GII.2, GII.4
Reymao et al [25]
Children172CommunityFrom 1990 t0 1992Not definedNested PCR9/172 (5.2%) 
SV-GI.1, GI.7, GII.1, GV.2
Costa et al [26]

ChinaUpper Middle incomeChildren
<5yrs old
500OP with acute (477)/ persistent (23) diarFrom August to November 2010Aug – Nov 2010RT-PCR9/477: 1.89% SV (<24 month children), mixed infection of SV & AdV in 1 sample,  
SV-GI dominant, SV-GII & SV-GIV
Ren et al [27]
Patients (1mn – 78yrs)412HP & OP with AGEFrom August 2014 to September 2015Not definedRT-PCR[9/412] 2.2% SV single infection, Co-infection: 2/412 ETEC with SV, 1/412 Salmonella sp with SV, 1/412 Salmonella sp with SV & AdV 
Genogroups not defined
Shen et al [28]

India (New Delhi)Lower middle incomeChildren <10yrs226HP with AGEFrom August 2000 to December 2001Not definedMultiplex two-step RT-PCR23/226 (39%), mixed infection in 5 samples NV-GII and SV-GI} 
SV-GI , GII
Rachakonda et al [29]

IranUpper middle incomeChildren200HP with AGEFrom 2008 to 2009Winter and in fallRT-PCR6/200 (3%), 
SV-GII
Parsa-Nahad et al [30]
Patients (3 mn - 69yrs; mean 15.3yrs
42HP with AGEFrom May to July 2009May – July 2009RT-PCR11.9% SV (patients with <5yrs of age)  
SV-GI.2
Romani et al [31]

MongoliaLower middle incomeInfants36householdsFrom July to August 2003Jul – Aug 2003RT-PCR1/36 (2.8%) pos for SV 
SV-GI
Hansman et al [11, 12]

NicaraguaLower middle incomeChildren <5yrs330(175 HP; 155 OP), with AGE /diarFrom September 2009 to October 2010Nov 2009- Feb/Mar 2010, May-Aug/Sept 2010Real-time PCR57/330 (17%): HP = 15% [27/175], OP = 19% [30/155].
SV-GI, GII, GIV HP: GI.1, GI.2; OP: GII.2, GII.3
Bucardo et al [32]

PakistanLower middle incomeInfants
<6 to >35 mn
122 Pos: Enteric VirusesHP with AGEFrom 1990 to 1994Mar, Aug - OctRT-PCR13.9% SV detection (12.3% SV mono-infections, 1.6 mixed infection – AstV & SV), SV-GIPhan et al [33]
Infants & children <1 mn – 5yrs
517HP with AGEFrom 1990 to 19941990: Aug, Sept, Oct 
1991: Jan, May, Jul, Oct 
1992: Mar, Aug, Sep 
1993: Sep 
1994: Apr, July
RT-PCR
3.2 % SV 
SV-GI dominated, followed by GII, and GIV
Phan et al [34]

Papua New Guinea (Goroka)Lower middle incomeChildren <5yrs199HP with AGEFrom August 2009 to November 2010Not definedRT-PCR4/199 (2%) SV,  
Genogroups not defined
Soli et al [35]

PeruUpper middle incomeChildren <2yrs599300 non-diar, 299 diarFrom 2007 to 2010Four seasonsQuantitative reverse transcription-real-time PCR (qPCR)9.0% overall:  
12.4 [37/299] diarrhoeal – SV-GI/1/2/6/7, GII.1/2/4/5, GIV, GV/1; 
5.7 [17/300] non-diarrhoeal – SV-GII.5, GIV
Liu et al [36]

PhilippinesLower middle incomeChildren <5yrs417HP with AGEFrom June 2012 to August 2013Not definedReal-time PCR29/417 (7%) detection, (co-infection in 10/29: 6/10 with RV, 2/10 with NV, 2/10 with AstV).
SV-GI.1, GI.2, GII.1, GII.4 & GV
Liu et al [1, 2]

ThailandUpper middle incomeInfants80 randomly selectedHP with AGEFrom November 2002 to April 2003Nov 2002 – April 2003RT-PCR15%: 11% single infection, 4% mixed infection – NoV & SV), 
SV-GI
Guntapong et al [37]
Children <5yrs248HP with AGEFrom 2002 to 2004Not definedRT-PCR3/248 (1.2%) SV- single infections 
SV-GI [GI.1 &GI.2], GIV
Khamrin et al [38]
Children296HP with AGEFrom May 2000 to March 2002Jun-Jul, Jan-Mar, May-Jul, Mar.RT-PCR25%, mixed infection I 1 sample (NV-GI and SV)  
SV-GI.1, GI.4, GI.5, GII.1, GII.2
Malasao et al [39]
All age groups273HP with AGE/diarFrom January 2006 to February 2007Early summer: March & AprilRT-PCR0.8% SV 
SV-GII/3
Kittigul et al [40]
Children (Neonate to 5yrs old)147HP with AGE/wateryJanuary to December 2005Not definedRT-PCR5/147 (3.4%) SV 
SV-GI [GI.2, GI.1, GI.5] dominating, SV-GII.3
Khamrin et al [41]
Pediatric patients160HP with AGEJanuary to December 2007Throughout the yearRT-multiplex PCR5/160 (3.1%) SV 
Genogroup not defined
Chaimongkol et al [42]
Children <5yrs567HP with AGEIn 2007, and from 2010 to 20112007: Feb, Sept, Oct. & 2010: DecSemi-nested RT-PCR7/567 (1.2%), 
SV-GI.1
Chaimongkol et al [43]
Adult (15yrs – 90yrs)332HP with diarYear 2008Not definedRT- multiplex PCRNo SV detectedSaikruang et al [44]
Patients1141HP with AGEFrom 2006 to 2008May - JulyRT-PCR1.1% SV, mixed infection of NoV-GII & SV in 2 samples 
Genogroup not defined
Pongsuwanna et al [45]

VietnamLower middle incomeChildren448HP with acute sporadic gastroenteritisFrom December 1999 to November 2000Not definedRT-PCR1/448 (0.2%) SV 
SV-GI
Hansman et al [46]
Paediatric patients1010HP with viral AGEFrom October 2002 to September 2003Oct 2002 – Sep 2003,
Rainy season (July)
RT-PCR0.8% SV (0.4% monoinfection, 0.4% coinfection),  
Genogroup not defined
Nguyen et al [47]
Pediatric502HP with AGEFrom December 2005 to November 2006Dry seasonRT-PCR1.2% SVNguyen et al [48]
Children <5yrs501HP with AGEFrom November 2007 to October 2008Cooler months (Oct – Feb)Real-time RT-PCR1.4% SV 
SV-GI and SV-GII 
Co-infection of (NoV & SV) in 1 sample, of (NoV, SV, and RV) in 1 sample
Trang et al [49]

Independent States of the former Soviet UnionSee information below describing the StatesChildren495HP with AGEFrom January to December 2009Jan - Mar, May – AugReal-time PCR16/495 (3.2%) 
SV-GI.1 dominating
Chhabra et al [50]

HP = hospitalised patient; OP = outpatient; AGE = acute gastroenteritis; mn= month; yr(s) = year(s); diar = diarrhoea; SV = Sapovirus; G (I-IV) = genogroup (I-IV)
Independent States of the former Soviet Union refers to Armenia, Azerbaijan & Belarus (upper middle income status), and Georgia, Republic of Moldova & Ukraine (lower middle income status).