| Name |
Hepatitis Delta Virus |
| Aliases |
Delta antigen, Hepatitis D Virus |
| Discovery |
1979 by Italian researcher, Mario Rizzetto |
|
| Family |
Unknown |
| Genus |
Deltavirus |
| Genome |
|
| Virion |
Approx same size as HBV virion (35-37 nm in diameter) |
|
| Replication |
Requires co-infection with Hepatitis B virus |
|
| Transmission |
Blood, semen and vaginal secretions, from mother to child |
|
| Epidemiology |
Endemic in Central Africa, South America, and the Mediterranean Basin |
|
| Incubation |
3 to 12 weeks |
| Symptoms |
Jaundice, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, hepatic tenderness |
|
| Outcome |
Acute hepatitis, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, fulminant hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma |
|
| Prevention |
Hepatitis B vaccination. Avoid risky sexual and IV drug use behavior. |
|
| Treatment |
Interferon-alfa |
| Vaccine |
No HDV vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent HDV/HBV coinfection. |
|