There are five genogroups (GI-GV), GI, GII, GIV and GV are known to infect humans. Sapovirus can cause disease in people of all ages, especially children, in both sporadic cases and outbreaks worldwide. Outbreaks generally occur in semi-closed settings but there have also been reports of foodborne transmission.
The clinical presentation of sapovirus gastroenteritis is indistinguishable from those caused by noroviruses and so laboratory diagnosis is essential to identify the causative agent.