Hepatitis Viruses
Hepatitis caused by viral means is the most common cause of the disease. Although they are classified under the disease hepatitis, these viruses are not all related.
| HAV | HBV | HCV | HDV | HEV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission | Enteral | Parenteral | Parenteral | Parenteral | Enteral |
| Classification | Picornavirus | Hepadnavirus | Hepacivirus | Deltavirus | Hepevirus |
| Genome | +ssRNA | +dsDNA | +ssRNA | -ssRNA | +ssRNA |
| Antigens | HBsAg,HBeAg | Core antigen | Delta antigen | ||
| Incubation period | 15–45 days | 45–160 days | 15–150 days | 30–60 days | 15–60 days |
| Severity/Chronicity | mild; acute | occasionally severe; 5-10% chronic | subclinical; 70% chronic | exacerbates symptoms of HBV; chronic w/ HBV | normal patients, mild; pregnant women, severe; acute |
| Vaccine | 10 year protection | 3 injections, lifetime protection | none |
Read more about this topic: Viral Hepatitis