Hepatitis A – Identify the statement that is NOT correct regarding HAV characteristics and disease outcomes.

Introduction:
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an enterically transmitted picornavirus that causes acute, self-limited hepatitis. Understanding what HAV does not do helps distinguish it from HBV and HCV, which are associated with chronicity and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This question asks you to identify the incorrect statement about HAV.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• HAV is non-enveloped, environmentally hardy, and transmitted fecal–orally.
• Cell-culture propagation is possible in specific primate/human lines.
• HAV does not lead to chronic hepatitis or HCC.

Concept / Approach:
Contrast HAV with oncogenic hepatitis viruses. HAV causes acute disease with full recovery and lifelong immunity in most cases. It lacks integration mechanisms and chronic inflammatory milieu typical of HBV/HCV-associated carcinogenesis. Identify the statement claiming HCC causation as the incorrect one.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Confirm HAV's environmental stability: resistant to mild heat, acid, and detergents.Step 2: Confirm fecal–oral transmission via contaminated food/water.Step 3: Recognize that cell culture growth, while specialized, is documented.Step 4: Flag the claim linking HAV to HCC as incorrect; HAV is not oncogenic.

Verification / Alternative check:
Oncovirology references attribute HCC risk to chronic HBV/HCV (and synergistic factors), not HAV. Public health messaging focuses on sanitation and vaccination rather than cancer prevention for HAV.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Growth in culture: achievable in appropriate systems.
• Environmental stability: consistent with non-enveloped structure.
• Fecal–oral transmission: hallmark of HAV spread.
• None of the above: incorrect because one statement (HCC causation) is indeed wrong.

Common Pitfalls:
Projecting oncogenicity of HBV/HCV onto HAV; assuming all hepatitis viruses share similar chronic outcomes.

Final Answer:
HAV infection may cause hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).