Hepatitis D virus
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Revision as of 20:56, 2 November 2020 by Aidan (talk | contribs) (Created page with "== Background == === Microbiology === * Negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus within the genus Genus::Deltavirus * Accompanies hepatitis B virus and requires HBsA...")
Background
Microbiology
- Negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus within the genus Deltavirus
- Accompanies hepatitis B virus and requires HBsAg for transmission
- Viral genome encodes a single protein, HDAg, that has two isoforms, large and small
Epidemiology
- Blood-borne infection transmitted by blood and secretions
- Only requires small inoculum to cause infection
- Coinfection of about 5% of hepatitis B-infected people
- Present worldwide, but more common in the Middle East, Africa, and eastern Europe, as well as older patients from the Mediterranean Basin
- Areas with the highest prevalence in the world include parts of Central and West Africa (especially Mauritania and Gabon), parts of the Amazon basin, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, and northern Viet Nam
- Higher prevalence among patients coinfected with hepatitis B and HIV
Clinical Manifestations
- Can only infect patients in the presence of hepatitis B virus
- Incubation period of 3 to 7 weeks for superinfection of HDV in a patient already infected with HBV, or 45 to 160 days for new acquisition of both HBV and HDV
Diagnosis
- Serology, with anti-HDV IgG, followed by real-time PCR
- Viremia fluctuates, so if PCR is negative but suspicion remains, can check anti-HDV IgM
