Susceptibilidad de las Mucosas Oculares al SARS COV-2: Bioseguridad Sanitaria

SARS CoV-2, the causal agent of the Covid- 19 disease, infects the digestive and respiratory mucosa, affecting epithelial cells The virus enters through the ACE2 membrane receptor causing the disruption of cell homeostasis Frequent reports indicate the presence of ocular conjunctivitis in patients diagnosed with Covid-19, which has alerted scientists to the potential source of viral infection from lacrimal secretions The epithelia of the subpalpebral and corneal ocular conjunctiva are characterized by presenting the receptor for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and associated transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), whose interaction activates cytokine release mechanisms, with the ability to start the infectious conjunctivitis process by SARS CoV-2, but not necessarily extend the infection to the digestive and respiratory systems Although this inflammatory process is more frequent as an expression of the general and more serious infection However, whatever the route of infection or entry of the SARS CoV-2 virus, it is important to consider the risk of infection of tears and conjunctival secretions in patients This study aims to draw attention to health care and control measures, incorporating better standards of personal protection and biosafety, especially in the areas of ophthalmology, assuming that the ocular mucosa can be a route of entry for the virus, and at the same time a source of contagion A further consideration is the potential of viral infection with associated underlying diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetes It is also suggested to incorporate histological studies of the ocular mucosa to differentiate healthy and infected epithelia (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] El SARS CoV-2,agente causal de la enfermedad llamada Covid-19, infecta las mucosas digestivas y respiratorias, afectando las celulas epiteliales El virus ingresa a traves del receptor de membrana ACE2 provocando la disrupcion de la homeostasis celular Frecuentes reportes indican la presencia de conjuntivitis ocular en pacientes diagnosticadas con Covid-19, lo cual ha alertado a los cientificos sobre el potencial foco de infeccion viral de las secresiones lagrimales Los epitelios de la conjuntiva ocular sub-palpebral y corneal, se caracterizan por presentar el receptor de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina 2 (ACE2) y proteasa transmembrana asociada serina 2 (TMPRSS2), cuya interaccion activa los mecanismos de liberacion de citoquinas, capaces de instalar un proceso de conjuntivitis infecciosa por SARS CoV-2, pero no necesariamente hacer extensiva la infeccion hacia los sistemas digestivo y respiratorio Aunque este proceso inflamatorio es mas frecuente como una expresion de la infeccion general y mas grave Sin embargo, cualquiera sea la via de infeccion o ingreso del virus SARS CoV-2 es importante considerar el riesgo de infectividad de las lagrimas y las secresiones conjuntivales en los pacientes Este estudio pretende llamar la atencion sobre las medidas de cuidados y control sanitario, incorporando mejores normas de proteccion personal y bioseguridad, especialmente en el areas de oftalmologia, asumiendo que la mucosa ocular puede ser una via de entrada del virus y a la vez una fuente de contagio Tambien considerar la potenciacion de la infeccion viral con las enfermedades de base asociadas, como glaucoma y diabetes Se sugiere ademas incorporar estudios histologicos de la mucosa ocular para diferenciar epitelios sanos e infectados (Spanish) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Journal of Morphology is the property of Sociedad Chilena de Anatomia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )