Three clusters of Saffold viruses circulating in children with diarrhea in Japan

Saffold virus (SAFV) is a newly discovered human virus in the genus Cardiovirus, family Picornaviridae. The virus was first described from fecal specimens of a child with fever of unknown origin in 2007. A total of 454 fecal specimens were collected from children with diarrhea attended clinics in Japan, 2010-2011, 7 (1.5%) were positive for SAFV. Mixed-infections of SAFV and other enteric viruses (rotavirus, norovirus, and bocavirus) were found in four out of seven cases, while monoinfection by SAFV alone was detected in three cases. In addition to diarrhea, fever and vomiting were observed in three children and mild dehydration in one case. No particular symptoms of cough and rhinorrhea were noted. Analysis of partial VP1 nucleotide sequence of 7 Japanese SAFV strains revealed that 5 SAFV sequences were most closely related with SAFV2 reference strains, but separated into SAFV2-A (3 strains) and SAFV2-B (2 strains). In addition, the other two strains were classified as SAFV3. Our results indicated that SAFVs (SAFV2 and SAFV3) were circulated in children with acute gastroenteritis in Japan during 2010 and 2011 epidemic season.

► Epidemiological study of SAFV in children with diarrhea in Japan was conducted. ► Among 454 fecal specimens tested, 7 (1.5%) were positive for SAFV. ► The partial VP1 sequences demonstrated that SAFV2 and SAFV3 were identified. ► Five SAFV2 were separated into SAFV2-A (3 strains) and SAFV2-B (2 strains). ► The other two strains were classified as SAFV3.