Hepatitis A
Virus
Epidemiology and
Etiology:
- Military
campaigns
- Endemic
in countries with substandard hygiene and sanitation
- Clinical
disease rare after childhood
- Hepatitis
A virus:
- picornavirus
- Incubation
period 2-6 wks
- ssRNA
- Icosahedral capsid
27nm diameter
- Fecal-oral
transmission
- Contaminated
water and food
- Raw or
steamed shellfish exposed to human sewage
Common sites:
Gross features:
Histologic
features:
Immunophenotype:
Marker:
|
Sensitivity:
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Specificity:
|
|
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Molecular features:
Other features:
- Does not
cause chronic hepatitis or chronic carrier state
- Clinical
features:
- Mild or
asymptomatic
- Rarely
causes fulminant hepatitis
- Serology:
- Anti-HAV
IgM (acute) and IgG
(long-term)
- HAV
vaccine is available and effective
- No increased
risk of HCC
References:
- Robbins
& Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (2005)