Viral Hepatitis I and II Flashcards
Which hep virus(es) are spread principally by fecal-oral route?
Hep A and E
Which hep virus(es) are spread by blood (parenterally or sexually)?
B, C, D
What other viruses (not hep a,b,c,d,e) can cause acute hepatitis?
EBV, CMV, yellow fever and Rubella
What is viral hepatitis characterized by (labs and symptoms)?
Elevation of liver enzymes such as aminotransferases (ALT/AST), and bile (bilirubin) in the blood causing yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
Hepatitis A (name, virus type, symptoms)
“Infectious Hepatitis”
ssRNA containing picornavirus
Asymptomatic or symptomatic. Usually self-limiting.
Abrupt onset of symptoms that can include fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, and jaundice.
Frequent cause of acute hepatitis in US
In children, 70% of patients.
Is Hep A acid labile or stable?
Stable
Because it’s an enterovirus
How is Hep A contracted
Fecal-oral route
Local epidemics occur from eating raw seafood, usually shellfish, or fecal contaminated produce like green onions and other salad bar items.
Is there a Hep A vaccine?
Yes
prepared from killed virus, capsid protein antigens
There is only one serotype of HAV, therefore this vaccine is efficacious around the world.
Recommended for travelers visiting developing countries of the world. HAV vaccine is now universally recommended for all children in the US, however, HAV infections are common in the US because many children and many adults have not received the vaccine.
Passive immunization to Hep A
Rarely used now. Instead we just vaccinate with killed vaccine even post-exposure and that works well enough.
Because the incubation period of HAV infections is long enough (usually more than 2 weeks), people exposed to HAV can be treated with immune serum globulin to prevent or to decrease the severity of disease. If people are given immune serum globulin within one week of their infection their disease can be prevented.
can receive passive and active vaccination simultaneously
Hep E (type of virus)
Hepeviridae family
Naked, postive-sense ssRNA virus
Where are Hep E infections most common?
Developing world
HEV infections are not common in US
What population is most concerning when infected with Hep E?
Pregnant women (3rd trimester) Fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women (mortality up to 40%)
Hep B Virus
dsDNA (some is ds some is ss; kind of a mess of DNA)
Enveloped
Hepadnavirus
HBV antigens
HBsAg: HBV surface antigen, is the envelope of the virus and sub-viral 22nm particles. Not infectious. Found in the blood of infected individuals in large numbers and serve as diagnostic marker of acute, and chronic hepatitis. The recombinant vaccine consists of HBsAg particles.
Anti-HBsAg: marker of convalescence and subsequent immunity.
HBcAg: HBV core antigen, capsid. AntiHBcAg (IgM) is one of the markers of acute infection.
HBeAg: Found in the blood of chronic hepatitis patients. Marker associated with infectivity, AntiHBeAg is not protective but is an early indicator of resolution of hepatitis and favorable prognosis.
HBxAg: Viral regulatory protein, likely player in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
HBV replication
Uses reverse transcriptase on the way out of the cell (unlike retroviruses that use it on the way into the cell)
DNA virus BUT replicates via an RNA intermediate. The viral genome transcribes a genome-length RNA molecule termed pregenome that is converted into DNA by a reverse transcriptase (P) encoded by the virus. The product of this activity is a partially double stranded DNA molecule found in the virions. Core particles exit from hepatocytes after being packaged with HBsAg/envelope or recycle through nucleus.