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OJHAS: Vol. 4, Issue
2: (2005 Apr-Jun) |
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| HBV, HCV and HIV: Comparable Yet Contrasting |
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Krishna Prasad, Professor and Head,
Vimal Kumar Karnekar, Associate Professor,
Department of Microbiology, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Deralakatte - 575018 INDIA |
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Address For Correspondence |
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Dr. Krishnaprasad MS,
Prof. and Head, Dept. of Microbiology,
K.S. Hegde Medical Academy,
Deralakatte - 575018,
India
E-mail: kshamashree@hotmail.com
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| Krishna
Prasad MS, Karnekar V. HBV, HCV and HIV: Comparable yet contrasting.
Online J Health Allied Scs.2005;2:1 |
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Submitted: Nov 5,
2005; Accepted: Nov 21, 2005; Published:
Nov 23, 2005 |
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| Abstract: |
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human
Immunodeficiency Virus infections have become a formidable challenge globally
due to the chronic nature of the infection and life threatening complications.
The common mode of transmission has led to co-infections and increased morbidity
and requires concerted control efforts.
Key Words:
Hepatitis B Virus,
Hepatitis C virus, HIV |
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Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
have in the recent years posed significant challenges to the health care
professionals all over the globe. Even though belonging to different
classes of viruses, these share features that are especially important
with regard to their control and prevention of complications (Table 1). These viruses have a marked ability to
spread from one person to another by parenteral route especially sexual contact.
Even though blood transfusion can be the most effective way, introduction of
stringent laws enforcing screening tests for all the three viruses has reduced
such transmission to a great extent in many countries. Other methods of transmission
continue to draw the attention of health workers to be tackled effectively. With
an ever-increasing population of addicts and sexual promiscuity the challenge
continues to be grave. It is also to be noted that the concomitant infection
of these viruses leads to higher frequency of carrier state and severe manifestation
of the disease. The problem is compounded further by the non-availability of
protective vaccines against HIV and HCV.
This puts more impetus on early detection
and prevention to be implemented in the community to tackle the problem effectively.
There is a need to focus on the incidence of coexisting disease by these viruses
and to study the progression of disease in such cases.
Table 1: Similarities and differences between HBV, HCV and HIV
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Features |
HIV |
Hepatitis B |
Hepatitis C |
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Family |
Retroviridae |
Hepadnaviridae |
Flaviviridae |
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Genus |
Lenti virus |
Orthohepadnavirus |
Unnamed |
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Virion size |
80-120 nm |
42 nm |
30-60 nm |
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Virion shape |
Spherical |
Spherical |
Spherical |
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Envelope |
Yes |
Yes (HBsAg) |
Yes |
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Genome |
ss RNA |
ds DNA |
ss RNA |
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Genome size |
9-10 kbp |
3.2 kbp |
9.5 kbp |
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Stability |
Ether sensitive |
Acid sensitive |
Ether sensitive and acid sensitive |
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Site of replication of genome
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Nucleus |
Nucleus |
Cytoplasm |
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Transmission |
Parenteral |
Parenteral |
Parenteral |
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Prevalence |
High |
High |
Moderate |
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Chronic disease |
Yes |
Often |
Often |
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Oncogenic potential |
None |
Yes |
Yes |
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Age affected |
Any age |
Any age |
Adults |
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Incubation Period |
Variable |
50-180 days |
40-120 days |
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Illness |
Severe |
Occasionally severe |
Moderate |
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Carrier state |
Present (life long) |
Common - 3 types
Simple carriers: Low infectivity, have a low titre of HBsAg in blood,
negative for HBeAg, HBV and DNA polymerase
Chronic carriers:
Those who carry HBsAg in the blood for more than 6 months.
Super carriers: Those who have a high titre of HBsAg, HBV, DNA polymerase
and HbeAg in the blood |
Present |
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Material |
Blood, semen, organ transplants, Parenteral |
Blood, semen, organ transplants, Parenteral |
Blood, semen, organ transplants, Parenteral |
- Quinn TC. Population migration &spread of types I & II human immuno
deficiency viruses Proc Nat/ Acad Sci USA 1994;91:2407
- Van de perre P The epidemiology of HIV infection and AIDS in Africa
Trends Microbiol 1995;3:217
- Iwarson S, Norkwans G, Wejstal R. Hepatitis C: Natural history of a unique
infection. Clin Infect Dis 1995;20:1361
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