Inflammation of papillae of Wharton's duct in COVID-19 patients: A debatable entity

• Published in: Special Care in Dentistry Vol. 41; no. 1; p. 127
• Main Authors: Afsal, Abdul Salam, Musthafa, Najma, Fathima, Mundekattil Sulaiman, Lakshmi, Geetha Gopalakrishnan
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2021
• Subjects: COVID-19; Humans; Inflammation; Saliva; Salivary Ducts; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Wharton's duct; submandibular salivary gland
• ISSN: 1754-4505
• DOI: 10.1111/scd.12526

[...]ACE2 expressing cells may act as target cells and indicate potential infectious route.1 A high expression of ACE2 in oral cavity especially tongue, floor of mouth, and salivary gland might provide possible routes of entry for the 2019‐nCoV.2 Liu et al analyzed rhesus macaques and found expression of ACE2 in epithelial cell lining on minor salivary gland ducts.3 Chen et al revealed the expression of ACE2 receptor in human granular cells in salivary glands, which can actually be a target site for 2019‐nCoV.4 Fisher et al reported parotitis in a diagnosed case of COVID‐19.5 Here, we describe the inflammation of papillae of Wharton's duct seen in three patients diagnosed with COVID‐19. About six patients with mild symptoms like fever, myalgia, and throat pain were tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) by RT‐PCR at Kadakkal Government Taluk Hospital, Kerala by June 11, 2020. Epithelial cells lining salivary gland ducts are early target cells of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in the upper respiratory tracts of rhesus macaques.