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Review
. 2024 Mar 7;12(3):540.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12030540.

SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses in Human Olfactory Pathophysiology

Serigne Fallou Wade  1 , Abou Abdallah Malick Diouara  2 , Babacar Ngom  1 , Fatou Thiam  2 , Ndongo Dia  3
Affiliations
Review

SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses in Human Olfactory Pathophysiology

Serigne Fallou Wade et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

Acute respiratory viruses (ARVs) are the leading cause of diseases in humans worldwide. High-risk individuals, including children and the elderly, could potentially develop severe illnesses that could result in hospitalization or death in the worst case. The most common ARVs are the Human respiratory syncytial virus, Human Metapneumovirus, Human Parainfluenza Virus, rhinovirus, coronaviruses (including SARS and MERS CoV), adenoviruses, Human Bocavirus, enterovirus (-D68 and 71), and influenza viruses. The olfactory deficits due to ARV infection are a common symptom among patients. This review provides an overview of the role of SARS-CoV-2 and other common ARVs in the development of human olfactory pathophysiology. We highlight the critical need to understand the signaling underlying the olfactory dysfunction and the development of therapeutics for this wide-ranging category of AVRs to restore the altered or loss of smell in affected patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; anosmia; loss of smell; olfaction disorders; respiratory viruses.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 2
Figure 2
Role of RSV in olfactory impairment. RSV induced the inflammation response related to the age group with damage of olfactory epithelium and OSN progenitors and the impairment of olfactory response, leading to more virus susceptibility.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Action of PIV in the olfactory impairment. PIV induced the inflammation response with damage to olfactory epithelium and the impairment of olfactory response, leading to more virus susceptibility.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Implication of RV in olfactory impairment. RV induced the inflammation response with damage to the olfactory epithelium, the degradation of the tight junction and adherent junction markers, and the impairment of olfactory response leading to more virus susceptibility.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Role of SARS-CoV-2 in olfactory impairment. SARS-CoV-2 induced disruption of the nasal epithelium, with loss/damage of olfactory sensory neurons, sustentacular cells, Bowman’s gland, and supporting cells. All figures were created with BioRender.com (accessed on 7 October 2023).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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