Which hepatitis virus can only be contracted as a superinfection/co-infection?

Which hepatitis virus can only be contracted as a superinfection/co-infection?

• A. Hepatitis B
• B. Hepatitis A
• C. Hepatitis E
• D. Hepatitis D

Answer: (C)

Some hepatitis viruses depend on another virus to complete their life cycle. The one that can only cause infection when another hepatitis virus is present is a defective, or satellite, virus that relies on hepatitis B for the envelope it needs to form infectious particles. This means it cannot establish infection on its own and can only occur as a co-infection with hepatitis B or as a superinfection in someone who already has hepatitis B. That dependency on hepatitis B is what makes this virus unique. Clinically, co-infection with this virus and hepatitis B can lead to more severe acute hepatitis, and superinfection in a chronic hepatitis B carrier often accelerates progression to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. In contrast, hepatitis A and hepatitis E can establish infections independently, and hepatitis B can infect on its own without needing another virus.

Some hepatitis viruses depend on another virus to complete their life cycle. The one that can only cause infection when another hepatitis virus is present is a defective, or satellite, virus that relies on hepatitis B for the envelope it needs to form infectious particles. This means it cannot establish infection on its own and can only occur as a co-infection with hepatitis B or as a superinfection in someone who already has hepatitis B. That dependency on hepatitis B is what makes this virus unique.

Clinically, co-infection with this virus and hepatitis B can lead to more severe acute hepatitis, and superinfection in a chronic hepatitis B carrier often accelerates progression to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. In contrast, hepatitis A and hepatitis E can establish infections independently, and hepatitis B can infect on its own without needing another virus.