What microorganism causes hepatitis?

Overview. Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus is primarily spread when an uninfected (and unvaccinated) person ingests food or water that is contaminated with the faeces of an infected person.

What is hepatitis in biology?

hepatitis, inflammation of the liver that results from a variety of causes, both infectious and noninfectious. Infectious agents that cause hepatitis include viruses and parasites. Noninfectious causes include certain drugs and toxic agents.

Is hepatitis A virus or bacteria?

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that infects liver cells and causes inflammation. The inflammation can affect how your liver works and cause other signs and symptoms of hepatitis A. The virus most commonly spreads when you eat or drink something contaminated with fecal matter, even just tiny amounts.

Is hepatitis caused by bacteria?

Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

What microbe causes hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus is passed from person to person through blood, semen or other body fluids. It does not spread by sneezing or coughing.

Is hepatitis DNA or RNA?

Abstract. Hepatitis A virus is an enteric picornavirus. Its genome is a single stranded RNA molecule of positive-strand polarity of 7478 bases.

What type of virus is hepatitis?

Hepatitis A virus (HAV), classified as hepatovirus, is a small, unenveloped symmetrical RNA virus which shares many of the characteristics of the picornavirus family, and is the cause of infectious or epidemic hepatitis transmitted by the fecal-oral route.

What type of microorganism is hep B?

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small DNA virus with unusual features similar to retroviruses. It is a prototype virus of the Hepadnaviridae family.

Is hepatitis B bacterial?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease.

What classification is hepatitis?

The five main viral classifications of hepatitis are hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. A different virus is responsible for each type of viral hepatitis. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 354 million people currently live with chronic hepatitis B and C globally.