Monday, December 14, 2009

Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV)

The hepatitis delta virus is a unique defective spherical 36 nm virus, composed of a core containing a circular, ss-RNA genome, surrounded by HB surface antigen. HDV can only replicate in patients with HBV infection.

Infection is either a coinfection where the patient acquires both viruses at the same time or a superinfection.

As HDV is dependent on HBV it follows a similar epidemiology. It can be controlled through control of hepatitis B infection.

Diagnosis
By detection of anti HDV antibodies.

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