2. Introduction:
Picornavirus (RNA).
Hepatitis A is an infectious disease of the liver caused
by Hepatovirus A.
Many cases have few or no symptoms, especially in the young.
The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a common infectious etiology of
acute hepatitis worldwide.
HAV does not cause chronic liver disease unlike hepatitis B or C.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infection
rates in developed countries are low.
The time between infection and symptoms, in those who develop
them, is 2–6 weeks.
Epidemic jaundice described by Hippocrates.
4. • 4 Genotypes
• One stable serotype only
• Naked RNA virus
• Stable at low pH
• Inactivated by high temperature
• Non-enveloped 27-nm
• Heat resistant.
• Virion contains four capsid polypeptides,
designated (VP1 to VP4).
Properties
8. The virus exits the host cell by lysis and viroporins.
Virions are secreted into the bile and released in stool.
HAV is excreted in large numbers about 11 days prior to the
appearance of symptoms or anti-HAV IgM antibodies in the
blood.
The incubation period is 15–50 days and risk of death in those
infected is less than 0.5%.
Life Cycle:
9. Pathogenesis:
• HAV is typically acquired through ingestion (through fecal-oral transmission) and
replicates in the liver.
• After 10 to 12 days, virus is present in blood and is excreted via the biliary
system into the feces.
• Peak titers occur during the 2 weeks before onset of illness.
• Although virus is present in serum, its concentration is several orders of
magnitude less than in feces.
• Virus excretion begins to decline at the onset of clinical illness and decreases
significantly by 7 to 10 days after onset of symptoms.
• Most infected persons no longer excrete virus in the feces by the third week of
illness.
11. Clinical Findings
• Dark urine appears first (bilirubinuria).
• Pale stool soon follows
• Jaundice -(70-85%) adults.
• Abdominal pain (40%).
• Itch
• Skin rash
• Hepatomegaly is common.
• Patients may have a fever with temperatures of up to 40°C.
12. Lab Diagnosis:
Acute infection is diagnosed by the detection of
HAV-IgM.
Past Infection i.e. immunity is determined by the
detection of HAV-IgG.
Cell culture – difficult and take up to 4 weeks, not
routinely performed
Direct Detection – PCR of faeces.
Can detect illness earlier than serology but rarely
performed.