Summary of The Hepatotropic Viruses

February 26, 2025Lab Tests Virology

What are the various viral markers used to diagnose hepatotropic viruses?

Viral Hepatitis	Route of transmission	Antigen / Antibody	Incubation period	Antigen/Antibody Disappears	Virus structure	Stage of Disease
Hepatitis A	Feco-oral Sexual	HAV-IgM	4 to 6 weeks	3 to 4 months	27-nm RNA virus	Acute infection
HAV structure		HAV-IgA	8 to 12 weeks	10 years		Previous infection
Hepatitis B	Parenteral Sexual	HBsAg	4 to 12 weeks	1 to 3 months	42-nm DNA virus	Acute HBV infection
HBV structure		HBsAb	3 to 4 months	6 to 10 years		Immunity to HBV infection
		HBeAg	1 to 3 weeks	6 to 8 weeks		Acute HBV infection
		HBeAg	4 to 6 weeks	4 to 6 years		End of acute HBV infection
		HBc-IgM	2 to 12 weeks	3 to 6 months		Acute HBV infection
		HBcAb-Total	3 to 12 months	For life		Recovery or previous infection
Hepatitis C (HCV)	Parenteral Sexual	HCV-Ag	2 to 12 weeks	Persists	30 to 60-nm RNA virus	Acute or chronic infection
Hepatitis Virus (HCV) structure	Parenteral Sexual	HCV-IgG	3 to 4 months	2 years		past infection
Hepatitis D (HDV)	Feco-oral Sexual Parenteral	HDV- Ag	1 to 3 days	3 to 5 days	36-nm RNA virus	Acute infection
		HDV-IgM	10 days	1 to 3 months		Acute infection
		HDV-Ab total	2 to 3 days	7 to 14 months		Chronic HDV infection
Hepatitis E (HEV)	Feco-oral	Anti-HEV	15 to 60 days		32-nm RNA virus	Severe in pregnant females