Porcine sapoviruses (SaVs),which belong to the family Caliciviridae,have been considered potential zoonotic agents for human infection,and several cases have been reported in Asian countries. In this study,a total of 200 porcine fecal samples collected from Lulong county of China were tested. Among 200 samples,porcine sapoviruses were detected by RT-PCR in 17 samples (8.5%) showing their circulation in China. 14 out of 17 positive sapovirus strains were genetically related to the genogroup III (GIII) and were further divided into three different clusters or genotypes according to the phylogenetic analysis. In addition,the remaining three sapovirus strains belonged to GVII (one strain) and a potential novel genogroup (two strains) according to the phylogenetic analysis and the nucleotide identity and amino acid identity. These data suggested the genetic diversity of porcine sapoviruses in China.
From November 2008 to January 2009,a sharp increase of diarrhea in children in Guangdong province appeared,we randomly collected 53 stool specimens from out-patient children with dirrhea in 3 major hospitals (Guangzhou City Children’s Hospital,Shenzhen Baoan District Maternal and Child Health Hospital,First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University). Rotavirus and calicivirus were screened by ELISA and RT-PCR. We found 29 cases of rotavirus infection with diverse serotypes. Only four cases were identified as calicivirus infection. The result indicated that rotavirus was a major pathogen of this high incidence of diarrhea from November 2008 to January 2009 in Guangdong Province.
