title: Hepatitis D Virus: Introduction and Epidemiology.
abstract: Hepatitis D is caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV), a unique RNA pathogen that requires the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) to infect. Hepatitis D is transmitted by the parenteral route. The main susceptible group is patients with chronic HBsAg infection who become superinfected with the virus. Hepatitis D occurs throughout the globe, but control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the last two decades has consistently diminished the circulation of HDV in industrialized countries. However, hepatitis D remains a medical issue for injecting drug users (IDUs), as well as immigrants from endemic HDV areas, who are reintroducing the infection in Europe.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzetto
mesh_terms: D055030:Drug Users; D005060:Europe; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015163:Superinfection
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens