Which hepatitis virus is associated with a higher risk of long-term carrier state?

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with a higher risk of developing a long-term carrier state due to its ability to integrate into the host's hepatic cells and establish chronic infection. Unlike hepatitis A and E, which are primarily acute infections and do not lead to chronicity, hepatitis B can persist in the body for years, leading to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and potentially hepatocellular carcinoma. The risk of chronic infection is significantly influenced by the age at the time of infection; for example, infants who acquire HBV are at a much higher risk for developing into chronic carriers when compared to infections that occur in adulthood. Hepatitis C also carries a risk for chronic infection, but hepatitis B has historically had a more significant association with long-term carriers. This capacity of HBV to remain dormant within liver cells and its persistence in the bloodstream create a higher likelihood of developing into a chronic carrier state, making it the correct answer.