File:Hepatitis B virus.jpg

Hepatitis B virus

This negatively-stained transmission electron micrograph (TEM) revealed the presence of numerous hepatitis B virus (HBV) virions, also know as Dane particles. HBV contains a genome of DNA, and is a member of the family of viruses known as Hepadnaviridae. It is the cause of a serious disease that attacks the liver, and an infection that can be lifelong, known as cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups to prevent hepatitis B virus infection. Transmission

• Occurs when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected.
• HBV is spread through having sex with an infected person without using a condom (the efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with HBV is unknown, but their proper use might reduce transmission), by sharing drugs, needles, or "works" when injecting drugs, through needlesticks or sharps exposures on the job, or from an infected mother to her baby during birth.

Persons at risk for HBV infection might also be at risk for infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or HIV.

Links: Viral Infection | Image - Hepatitis A | Image - Hepatitis B | Image - Hepatitis E

Copyright Restrictions: None - This image is in the public domain and thus free of any copyright restrictions. As a matter of courtesy we request that the content provider be credited and notified in any public or private usage of this image.

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