Mario Rizzetto 1977年在意大利都员市,在受乙肝病毒感染的肝脏中发现了一种新的抗原,即Delta抗原。随后的研究确定Delta抗原是人类独特的致病因子标记,目前称为肝炎Delta病毒(HDV)。使用血清学检测法测定HBV携带者中的HDV标记时发现,Delta感染与显性肝脏疫病有相关系。流行病学研究表明HDV感染呈世界性分布,但有地方性高流行区(例如中东和非洲的某些部分)。HDV与委内瑞拉一起重症肝炎的流行有关, In 1977, Mario Rizzetto found a new antigen in the hepatitis B virus-infected liver in Metropolitan Italy, the Delta antigen. Subsequent studies identified Delta antigen as a unique marker of human pathogenicity and is now known as Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV). Using serological tests to detect HDV markers in HBV carriers found that Delta infection is associated with a dominant liver disease. Epidemiological studies show a worldwide distribution of HDV infections, but endemic high endemic areas (such as parts of the Middle East and Africa). HDV is associated with the prevalence of severe hepatitis in Venezuela,