Detection and genotyping of human sapovirus in clinical and shellfish samples from Galicia

Zusammenfassung

The present doctoral thesis brings novel information on the study of human sapovirus, an emerging enteric virus causing acute gastroenteritis worldwide. This investigation was focused on the prevalence, quantification and genetic diversity observed in Galicia, Spain. With this purpose, collected shellfish samples from harvesting areas in the rías were employed, as well as clinical stool samples of people suffering acute gastroenteritis in the metropolitan area of A Coruña. Results obtained shown a significant presence of this human pathogen in shellfish and among the population. Besides, a novel digital PCR protocol to detect and quantify human sapovirus was developed, in order to improve the actual molecular techniques.