Which Hepatitis virus must be present to acquire Hepatitis D?

To acquire Hepatitis D, it is essential for Hepatitis B to be present. Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is an incomplete virus that relies on the presence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) to replicate and infect host cells. HDV is considered a satellite virus, meaning that it cannot exist independently and requires the presence of HBV for its lifecycle.

Individuals infected with Hepatitis B can either have acute or chronic HBV infection, and if they become co-infected or superinfected with HDV, they will develop Hepatitis D. This co-infection can lead to more severe liver disease compared to individual infections with Hepatitis B alone.

The other hepatitis viruses listed—Hepatitis A, C, and E—do not play a role in enabling Hepatitis D infection. Therefore, Hepatitis B is the only virus necessary for the acquisition of Hepatitis D, making it the correct response.