Hepatitis D Virus

摘要: Hepatitis D virus (HDV), the only member of genus Deltavirus, is from Deltaviridae family (1). It a negative-stranded RNA that depends on DNA (HBV) Hepadnaviridae for propagation but not replication (2). The helper virus, HBV, does share either sequence homologies or functional similarities with HDV in their mechanisms genome replication. Instead, shares some and structural viroids virusoids, both which belong to world plant viruses (3). However, there no evidence reflecting evolutionary lineage similar evolution between viruses. Thus, unique among animal virion particle 35–37 nm an hybrid made ribonucleic acid (HDV-RNA) delta antigen (HDAg) enveloped by surface (HBsAg) HBV (4). Recent analysis sequences polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification higly conserved region revealed presence three major genotypes different geographic demographic distributions (5). genotype I predominant North America Italy; isolates II have been identified Japan Taiwan. By contrast, III are associated exclusively countries northern South (Columbia, Venezuela, Peru). So far, correlated disease severity. Genotype F single described as Americas has this endemic area infection (6).