General features
• Delta virus is a detective RNA virus.
• The incubation period is 15-80 days and the most important transmission route is parenteral.
• It can cause infection in two clinical forms;
Delta hepatitis coinfection:
It is the co-infection of HBV and HDV virus.
Two peaks are seen first in HBV-dependent and then HDV-dependent transaminases.
Delta hepatitis superinfection:
Acute delta virus infection of someone who is a chronic hepatitis B carrier
is to pass.
In these patients, only HDV-dependent transaminase peak occurs.
Lab:
• Anti-HDV IgM: Indicates acute infection.
• HDV-RNA: Reflects replication.
• Anti-LKM-3 autoantibody may be found positive.
Prevention: Hepatitis B vaccine is sufficient for prophylaxis.