Saffold cardioviruses of 3 lineages in children with respiratory tract infections, Beijing, China

Abstract

To clarify the potential for respiratory transmission of Saffold cardiovirus (SAFV) and characterize the pathogen, we analyzed respiratory specimens from 1,558 pediatric patients in Beijing. We detected SAFV in 7 (0.5%) patients and identifi ed lineages 1-3. However, because 3 patients had co-infections, we could not defi nitively say SAFV caused disease.