Hepatitis A Virus
Sample for Hepatitis A Virus
- Venous blood is needed to prepare the serum.
- Random sampling can be used.
- The serum can be stored at 4 °C for 5 days.
- Feces can be taken for immuno-electron microscopy.
Purpose of the test (Indications) for Hepatitis A Virus
- To diagnose viral hepatitis A (HAV) infection.
Definition of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV)
- Hepatitis A viral infection is also called Infectious hepatitis or short incubation hepatitis.
- Hepatitis A is a non-enveloped virus belonging to the hepatotropic virus family and is 27 nm in diameter.
- HAV belongs to the Picornaviridae family.
- It is a picornavirus.
- Genus is a hapatovirus.
- There is no cross-reactivity with HBV or other hepatotropic viruses.
Structure of the Hepatitis A Virus:
- It consists of a linear single-stranded RNA virus (ssRNA) genome with 7.5 kb.
- It measures 27 to 32 nm spherical particles with cubic symmetry.
- VPg is a Viral protein genome-linked. It is a protein attached to the positive strand of viral RNA.
- VPg acts as a primer during RNA synthesis.
- HAV is a self-limiting acute liver disease.
The incubation period of Hepatitis A Virus infection:
- The incubation period is short, 3 to 4 weeks (range is 2 to 6 weeks).
- It is highly infectious during active infection and is excreted in the stool.
- It will spread through contaminated water or food.
- Urine and alive are less infective than stool.
- A great number of the virus appears in the stool before the symptoms appear.
- The number of viruses decreases as the symptoms appear.
- Complete recovery in 1 to 3 weeks and no carrier state.
- An occasional patient may have the longer disease for almost one year.
Mode of the spread of HAV infection:
- Initially, it was found in the stool and liver by E/M.
- It is a highly contagious viral infection and is most common in children.
- Most children recover from the disease and develop lifelong immunity.
- It is common in daycares and orphanages.
- In the active stage, this virus is excreted in the stool.
- So there is an oro-fecal spread because of the contamination of food and drinks.
- Sexual transmission between male homosexuals has been reported.
- Transmission via blood transfusion and I/V drug use is rare.
- It is most common in the third world, almost 90% to 100%.
The clinical course of Hepatitis A virus (HAV):
- Mostly asymptomatic.
- >50% of cases are subclinical, anicteric hepatitis.
- The most common age group is children.
- There may be a prodromal period of fever, chills, fatigue, malaise, and headache.
- The above symptoms will be followed by nausea and vomiting.
- There is anorexia.
- Sometimes there may be abdominal pain which is usually in the upper quadrant.
- Sometimes there may be gastroenteritis.
- When jaundice appears, then there is rapid improvement in the clinical symptoms.
- Jaundice may last for a few days to 12 weeks.
- Usually not infective after the appearance of jaundice.
Outcome Hepatitis A Virus infection:
- There is mild to severe disease.
- Mostly recovered from the HAV infection and gets life-long immunity.
- Very few die of HAV infection with fulminant hepatitis.
Summary of the HAV infection:
Parameters | Characteristic features |
Family | Picronaviridae |
Genus | Hepatotropic virus |
Transmission | Oro-fecal route |
Size | 27 nm |
Genome | ssRNA Virus |
Genome size | 7.5 kb |
Envelop | Absent |
Stability |
|
Destroyed |
|
Acute infection | Anti-HAV-IgM |
Immune status | Anti-HAV-IgG |
Fulminant hepatitis | Rarely seen |
Chronicity | Never seen |
Oncogenicity | It is not oncogenic |
High-risk group for Hepatitis A Virus:
- Child-care centers.
- The family members who are in close contact with the patient.
- In the summer camps.
- People are working in correctional centers.
- Homosexual peoples.
Immunology of Hepatitis A Virus:
- The first antibody in acute infection is IgM type (HAV-IgM)
- IgM appears 3 to 4 weeks after exposure to the virus or before the liver function tests are raised.
- IgM returns to normal in roughly 8 weeks or disappears in 3 to 4 months. It is not detectable after 12 months.
- HAV-IgG appears after 2 weeks when IgM is increasing.
- Now IgM slowly comes to normal, and IgG will be present in the blood.
- HAV-IgG will be detectable in the blood even after 10 years.
-
Disease stage IgM IgG Acute infection Positive Negative Later on Positive Positive Immunity Negative Positive Repeat test 2 weeks later Not done Negative
-
Diagnosis of Hepatitis A Virus:
- SGPT and SGOT have raised the varying range to hundreds of the normal, which may remain for 1 to 3 weeks.
- Blood show relative lymphocytosis.
- HAV-IgM
- IgM is macroglobulin, and it indicates acute infection.
- It appears in the blood 3 to 4 weeks after exposure to the HAV virus.
- Or it appears just before the rise in SGPT.
- The peak level reaches one week after the rise begins.
- It appears simultaneously when symptoms appear.
- It becomes normal in about 2 months after the clinical symptoms become normal,
- It is non-detectable for 12 months. In a few cases may be detected in 12 to 14 months.
- HAV-IgG
- It appears after 2 weeks of the beginning of IgM increase.
- It is seen in the middle stage of the symptoms.
- It peaks in about 1 to 2 months after it begins to rise.
- Now its titer will fall and remain low titer for at least 10 years.
- The rising titer is needed in only IgG-positive cases.
- HAV-IgG positive and HAV-IgM negative indicate convalescent or chronic stage.
- Anti-HAV- IgG is present throughout life. It is positive in 50% of the USA population, indicating past infection and immune status.
- HAV total antibody indicates present or past infection.
- HAV total antibody also indicates vaccination.
- PCR: In the early stage, antibodies are not detectable then. Only PCR for RNA can be found in the stool and blood.
- PCR for RNA may be found in the saliva as well.
- PCR is rarely needed.
- The fecal HAV virus is positive 2 weeks before the symptoms appear.
- The HAV virus can be detected in the stool as early as 1 to 2 weeks after exposure.
- This period ends about 1 to 4 days after the appearance of the symptoms.
- At admission in 40% to 64% of the patient, the HAV virus in stool is negative.
- Summary of HAV virus diagnosis:
- For acute infection (current or recent HAV infection) = HAV-IgM.
- Past HAV infection/immunity = HAV-antibody total.
Preventions of Hepatitis A Virus:
- The best is to give the vaccine in epidemic areas and to children.
- Improve:
- Safe water supply.
- Safe food supply, which is the best hygienically.
- Have good sanitation.
- Washing of hands before taking the food.
Treatment of Hepatitis A Virus:
- These patients recover without any treatment.
- Mainly there is a need for supportive treatment.
Questions and answers:
Question 1: How will you diagnosis HAV in the acute stage?
Question 2: What is the use of total HAV-antibody?