Copyright o The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Table 24.12 Viral Hepatitis Disease Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Non-enveloped, single-stranded Enveloped double-stranded Enveloped, single-stranded RNA picornavirus, HAV DNA hepadnavirus, HBV RNA flavivirus, HCV Mode of spread Fecal-oral Blood, semen Blood, possibly semen Incubation period 3 to 5 weeks 10 to 15 weeks 6 to 7 weeks (range, 2 to 7 weeks) (range 6 to 23 weeks) (range, 2 to 24 we Prevention Gamma globulin; Recombinant vaccine, imunoglobulin No vaccine inactivated vaccine Comments Usually mild symptoms, but Symptoms often more severe Usually few or no symptoms often prolonged; full recovery, than hepatitis A; progressive progressive liver damage or no long-term carriers; combined liver damage in 1% to 6%can cancer in 10% to 20% of cases. hepatitis a and hepatitis b vaccine lead to cirhosis and cancer chronic carriers, virus can cross available chronic camers: can cross the placenta(rare) the placenta; combined hepatitis a and hepatitis B vaccine available Disease Hepatitis D Hepatitis E Hepatitis G Causative agent Defective stranded Non-enveloped, single-stranded Single-stranded RNA flavivirus RNA calicivirus. HEv Mode of spread Blood semen Fecal-oral Blood, possibly semen Incubation period 2 to 12 weeks 2 to 6 weeks Weeks Prevention No No vaccine No vacci Comments Prior or concurrent HBV Similar to hepatitis A, except Usually mild symptoms infection necessary; can cause severe disease in pregnant persistant viremia for worsening of hepatitis B women: same or related virus months can cross the placenta in ratsTable 24.12