Occurrence of Malassezia pachydermatis in Dogs with Otitis Externa

Abstract

Swab samples taken from a total of 100 dogs which were suspected about otitis externa symptoms such as ear discharge, skin rash (exanthema), flaking off, inflammation, rash and stink were mycologically examined. The swabs were inoculated onto Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) containing 0.05% chloramphenicol and 0.05% cycloheximide, and were incubated at 37 °C for 7 days. After the incubation, isolates were evaluated by morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. Thirty six out of these isolates were identified as Malessezia pachydermatis, six as Candida spp., and two of them were identified as Aspergillus spp. M. pachydermatis was isolated from 15 of 33 (42.4%) one to three years old, 10 of 30 (33.3%) four to six years old, 8 of 19 (42.1%) seven to ten years old, 1 of 8 (12.5%) ten to twelve years old and 2 of 9 (22.2%) older than twelve years old dogs. There has been no isolation occured under one year old dog. The agent was isolated 17 of 46 (36.9%) females, while 19 of 54 (35.1%) males. Crossbred animals and the terriers have the highest occurrence rates (25 and 22.2% respectively) if the percentage of M. pachydermatis isolation from a breed verses all affected dogs was evaluated. Though, German Shepherds have the highest occurrence rate (57.1%) when evaluated within the breeds. Differences according to age, gender and breed characteristics were not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Keywords

• otitis externa
• Malassezia pachydermatis
• Dog
• isolation