Hepatitis viruses Flashcards
Hepatitis
General term referring to inflammation of liver
Causes
Infectious -viral -bacterial -fungal -parasitic Non infectious -alcohol -drugs -autoimmune -metabolic diseases
Signs and symptoms of hepatitis
Malaise Jaundice Dark urine Pale fatty stools Serum & urine biochemistry, specific serological tests for HepA, B, C, D & E antibodies for viral hepatitis
Viral structure (DRAW)
Consist of a strand of nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protective protein coat (the capsid).
Sometimes they have a further membrane of lipid, referred to as an envelope, surrounding the protein.
Major hep viruses
HAV -non-enveloped -faecal-oral HBV - DNA genome (rest RNA) -lipid enveloped -parenteral HCV -lipid enveloped -parenteral HDV -lipid enveloped -parenteral HEV -non-enveloped -faecal-oral
Hep A
RNA, belongs to group
Picornavirus
Genotypes I - VII.
-four associated with human disease I-III & VII; most being I (80%) & III
Jejunum-blood-liver, bile faeces
2- week incubation followed by 4-10 day prodrome. Resolves in few weeks
Vaccine for Hep A
Formalin-killed virus
Recent Hep A outbreaks
San Diego
Manchester
Global distribution of Anti-HAV
Developing countries
Intermediate Russia and East Europe
High incidence in Greenland
Hep A epidemiology
1.5 million cases worldwide; 6-7000 cases reported p.a. in UK
Children (3-5 years) often asymptomatic
-important in spread (not very clean)
Severity > with age
IgM/IgG reminder
IgM is generally produced the first time a host is exposed to an antigen.
IgM will eventually decline, and then the host produces IgG, which lasts much longer.
Detection of IgM indicates acute or primary infection, IgG indicates past infection or immunity
MaGic
Serology of Hep A
First 2-3 weeks -virus in faeces so can be spread Present in blood during prodrome ->in HAV-specific IgM HAV specific IgG after 5 weeks
Hep B
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
Parenteral route of transmission
dsDNA virus, resides & multiplies in hepatocytes
Most patients recover in a few weeks
Carrier state of Hep B
2-5%
- chronic persistent hepatitis (‘healthy carrier’)
- chronic active hepatitis
Hep B virus (DIAGRAM)
3 forms -'Dane particle' is whole virion, only infectious form -Sphere form -Filament/ tubular form Made up of -DNA polymerase enzyme -core antigen HBcAg -dsDNA
Breakdown product of HBcAg
Found in serum
HBeAg
Marker of active infection
HBV genes
S: preS1 –> preS2 –> surface antigen
C: preC –> core protein
P: polymerase
X: regulatory
HBc and HBe antigens
Hbe antigen is a soluble component released by the virus core, expressed on hepatocyte surface and targeted by host immune system
HBV is not directly cytopathic for liver cells, pathology is largely immune related: overactive immune response to HbeAg
Core gene transcribed –> core protein (c antigen, not secreted)
With signal peptide modification and protease cleavage: core protein with a bit of pre-core added (e antigen, secreted)
Both made at same time