Hepatitis Viruses

Question 1

Hepatitis as a disease

Answer 1

presents with the inflammation of the liver, and liver damage

Question 2

Which hepatitis are known to develop a carrier status?

Answer 2

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, and Hep C are known to develop a CARRIER status, Hep C has a higher prevalence of carriers

Question 3

Hepatitis A Clinical disease

Answer 3

is a much milder disease than the others, however if pregnant, it can be more severe and can transverse the placenta. Symptoms can last for months, are shedding high amounts during 30 day incubation. Complications of severe hepatitis are common

Question 4

Hep A virus structure and how its transmitted

Answer 4

naked and tiny picornavirus, it is a very stable virus and can last up to months in the water, can also be in contaminated shellfish. it can be transmitted through 1. close personal contact, contaminated food/water, blood exposure (rare)

Question 5

Hep A and Viral shedding

Answer 5

Hep A has a high viral shedding load, while in the viremic phase can transmit it through the blood and the saliva

Question 6

Hepatitis E disease and virus

Answer 6

outbreaks associated with fecally contaminated drinking water, transmitted by enteric route, incubation period of 40 days, low shedding. and a high mortality rate in the pregnant woman

Question 7

Hepatitis B virus

Answer 7

is a double stranded DNA virus that replicates by reverse transcription. it contains inside the inner core, a hepatitis B core antigen and a hepatitis e antigen, its outer surface contains a hepatitis B surface antigen and this is the primary component of the hepatitis B vaccine

Question 8

Hepatitis B virus and clinical disease

Answer 8

is highly infectious and is transmitted through serum, fluid and sexual contact. Clinical disease presents with inflammation of the liver (jaundice) , nausea and tiredness.

Question 9

What do you look for in screen for viral hepatitis B panel?

Answer 9

LOOK for hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody

Question 10

Hepatitis D

Answer 10

is a form of viral hepatitis that can only occur as a co-infection or a superinfection with Hepatitis B. A Hep D superinfection can occur due to high loads of Hep D, and can lead to cirrhosis.

Question 11

Hepatitis D virus

Answer 11

is a defective single stranded RNA virus that requires the helper function of Hepatitis B in order to replicate. Nucleic acid testing is needed to differentiate the two Hep B and Hep D viruses.

Question 12

Hepatitis C virus

Answer 12

an enveloped single stranded RNA virus that has a hyper-variable region,, which allows for the capsid to have diverse antigenic structure, and difficulty in developing a vaccine.

Question 13

Hepatitis C clinical disease

Answer 13

many who have it are asymptomatic, can develop chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver carcinoma.

Question 14

how do you treat Hepatitis C?

Answer 14

Hepatitis C is treated with pegylated Interferon alpha AND Ribavirin.