Hepatitis D
virus
Epidemiology and
Etiology:
- ssRNA virus
- Replication
defective
- Infectious
only when encapsulated by HBsAg.
- Causes
hepatitis only in the presence of HBV
- External
HBsAg coat
- Internal
polypeptide assembly (HDAg)
- Small
(1689bp) circular ssRNA
- HDAg is only HDV-encoded
protein product detected to date
- 30-50d
incubation
- Route of
transmission
Common sites:
Gross features:
Histologic
features:
Immunophenotype:
Marker:
|
Sensitivity:
|
Specificity:
|
|
|
|
Molecular features:
Other features:
- Acute coinfection (with HBV) or superinfection
of HDV in a chronic HBV carrier
- Fulminant course more likely
(3-4%) than with HBV alone
- Chronicity rare
- EM
- Resembles
“Dane” particle of HBV
- Serology:
References:
- Robbins
& Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (2005)