Hepatitis D Virus

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Abstract
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is the only member of the family Deltaviridae, genus Deltavirus. To establish infection in vivo, HDV depends on helper functions provided by hepatitis B virus (HBV). HDV encodes a single protein, the HDAg, which is translated from a 0.8-kb mRNA transcribed from the genomic RNA. The host range of HDV infection includes humans, chimpanzees, woodchucks, and ducks carrying HBV-related hepadnaviruses. A common feature of experimental HDV infection is the inhibition of HBV, shown by a decrease in the levels of HBsAg and HBV DNA in the serum and liver. The liver histologic pattern of hepatitis D is nonspecific and is similar to other types of viral hepatitis. The intralobular inflammatory cells were mainly macrophages containing periodic acid-Schiff-positive nonglycogenic granules. The main strategies for the prevention of HDV infection are (i) behavioral modifications to prevent disease transmission and (ii) active immunization against HBV. Changes in sexual practices in response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have probably contributed to the declining incidence of HBV and HDV infection in the developed world and abroad, and improved methods for screening of blood products in blood banks have reduced the risk of transmission-associated hepatitis. HBV antisense oligonucleotides were constructed to alter HBV functions that are considered essential for HDV replication in vitro.