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[Microbiology](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/) · [Viruses](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/#d-virus)

# RNA hepatitis viruses

- Viruses

RNA viruses that attack the liver: A and E through water and food; C and D through blood. Hepatitis B, a DNA virus, completes the list.

Updated 2026-11-01

## What they are

These viruses come from different families but share a liking for the liver. The faecal-oral ones (A and E) cause acute hepatitis that does not become chronic in healthy people; the parenteral ones (C and D) tend to chronic infection, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B virus is a DNA virus and sits with the DNA viruses.

## What they share

- Hepatocyte tropism; damage comes mostly from the immune response
- A and E: faecal-oral, non-enveloped, not chronic in immunocompetent people
- C and D: blood-borne, enveloped, risk of chronic infection, cirrhosis and cancer
- Hepatitis D only infects people who carry hepatitis B

## Key points

- Vowels (A and E) come through the bowel; consonants (B, C, D) through blood and sex
- Anti-HAV or anti-HEV IgM marks acute infection
- Hepatitis C: antibody to screen, viral RNA to confirm; direct-acting antivirals cure over 95%
- Hepatitis E in the third trimester can cause liver failure and maternal death
- Hepatitis B vaccine also prevents hepatitis D

## Microorganisms in this group

- [**Hepatitis A virus** A virus spread through water or food contaminated with stool. It causes acute hepatitis that almost always clears on its own and never becomes chronic. Exam priority: high](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/hepatitis-a-virus/)
- [**Hepatitis C virus** A blood-borne virus. It often goes unnoticed for years while it damages the liver, but today oral antivirals cure it. Exam priority: medium](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/hepatitis-c-virus/)
- [**Hepatitis D virus** An incomplete virus that only infects people who have hepatitis B. It causes the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis. Exam priority: medium](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/hepatitis-d-virus/)
- [**Hepatitis E virus** A virus spread through contaminated water or undercooked meat. It usually clears on its own, but in pregnancy it can cause severe liver failure. Exam priority: medium](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/hepatitis-e-virus/)

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Which RNA hepatitis viruses spread by the faecal-oral route?

Hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses.

## Which hepatitis virus needs hepatitis B to replicate?

Hepatitis D (delta) virus, which uses the hepatitis B surface antigen as its envelope.

## Which RNA hepatitis virus most often becomes chronic?

Hepatitis C virus: most infected people develop chronic infection.

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Educational content on microorganisms; not a treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Hepatitis A](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-a) (World Health Organization (WHO), 2025); [Hepatitis C](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c) (World Health Organization (WHO), 2025); [Hepatitis D](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-d) (World Health Organization (WHO), 2025); [Hepatitis E](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-e) (World Health Organization (WHO), 2025).

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/groups/rna-hepatitis-viruses/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/groups/rna-hepatitis-viruses/