Malassezia pachydermatis infection in dogs: a retrospective of its epidemiology, clinical and cytological results in Cluj, Romania

The infection with Malassezia pachydermatis was diagnosed in 73 different dog breeds: West Highland White Terrier (12/73), crossbreed (7/73), German Shepherd (6/73), Shar Pei (5/73), Labrador Retriever (4/73), Bichon (4/73), Caniche (4/73), German Shorthaired Pointer (3/73), Bulldog (3/73), Mops (3/73), American Staffordshire Terrier (2/73), Beagle (2/73), Boxer (2/73), Spaniel Cocker (2/73), Golden Retriever (2/73), Cane Corso (1/73), Chow Chow (1/73), Belgian Shepherd (1/73), Romanian Shepherd (1/73), Hungarian Braque (1/73), Dalmatian (1/73), Siberian husky (1/73), Jack Russell Terrier (1/73), Schnauzer Miniature (1/73), Dachshund (1/73), Terra Nova (1/73), Yorkshire Terrier (1/73). The dog’s ages at the moment of consultation varied between 3 months and 13 years old (average age: 4 years old). The lesion’s topography was located or multifocal, concerning especially the distal portion of the anterior limbs (71.2%), external auditory duct (67.1%), face (50.7%), pelvic region (49.3%), distal portion of pelvic limbs (45.2%). Dominant symptoms and skin lesions were characterized by pruritus (95.5%), erythema (90.4%), alopecia (67.1%), hyperpigmentation (46.6%) and scales (45.2%). In all cases were diagnosed underlying diseases, and the presence of contributing factors (skin folds) was observed in 10/73 cases (13.7%). Allergic dermatitis represented the major underlying diseases for Malassezia pachydermatis dermatitis in 89.04% (65/73) cases. In 20/73 dogs (23.4%) cytological examination revealed only Malassezia infection, clinically expressed as external erythematous ceruminous otitis, Malassezia overgrowth syndrome (MOG), and erythematous pododermatitis. In other cases (53/73) Malassezia infection developed in association with different pyodermatitis (bacterian overgrowth syndrome, mucocutaneous pyodermatitis, folliculitis, interdigital furunculosis and pyotraumatic dermatitis).