A 24-year-old man comes to the emergency department due to 4 days of progressive fatigue, nausea, and abdominal pain. The patient is a known hepatitis B carrier. He admits to using IV drugs and has shared needles with other drug users on several occasions. His temperature is 37.7 C (99.9 F). Examination shows scleral icterus and mild, tender hepatomegaly. Laboratory studies are notable for highly elevated levels of liver aminotransferases and serum bilirubin and also show the following results: This patient's chronic infection assists which of the following life cycle aspects of the current infectious agent?

Question

A 24-year-old man comes to the emergency department due to 4 days of progressive fatigue, nausea, and abdominal pain.  The patient is a known hepatitis B carrier.  He admits to using IV drugs and has shared needles with other drug users on several occasions.  His temperature is 37.7 C (99.9 F).  Examination shows scleral icterus and mild, tender hepatomegaly.  Laboratory studies are notable for highly elevated levels of liver aminotransferases and serum bilirubin and also show the following results:  This patient's chronic infection assists which of the following life cycle aspects of the current infectious agent?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: The hepatitis B surface antigen of hepatitis B virus must coat the hepatitis D antigen of hepatitis D virus before it can infect hepatocytes and multiply.

A 24-Year-Old Man Comes to the Emergency Department Due to 4