Hepatitis D

Paul Auwaerter, M.D.

MICROBIOLOGY

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus, Hepatitis delta virus. It cannot replicate on its own in the human host.
- Enveloped, circular RNA.
- 8 HDV genotypes described with similar transmission and risk groups.
  - HDV genotype 1: mostly seen in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
  - HDV genotype 2: East Asia
  - HDV genotype 3: only in the Amazon Basin
  - HDV genotypes 5, 6, 7, and 8: West and Central Africa.
HDV requires active hepatitis B virus (HBV) for replication.
- Either super-infection or co-infection scenarios with HBV can occur

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