Prevalence of dermatophytosis and Malassezia infection in dogs and cats in Thonglor Bangkok Pet Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

Malassezia yeasts are occasional human and animal skin organisms that commensally act as pathogens, while dermatophytes are common fungi in many clinics and hospitals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dermatophytosis and Malassezia infections in dogs and cats, and the effect of treatments. The study was carried out from December 2022 to May 2023 in Thonglor Bangkok Pet Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Total 208 cases visited the hospital, in which 32 cases of otitis and 53 dermatitis were recorded. Sterile cotton swabs were used to collect the aural samples from 32 cases, then observed under the microscope to detect the presence and population of Malassezia yeasts. In 53 dermatitis cases, adhesive tape impressions (ATI) methods and fungal culture were used to identify the species of dermatophytes and Malassezia dermatitis. The results showed that Malassezia was isolated from 24 cases, including 23 Malassezia otitis and 1 Malassezia dermatitis. However, there was only one positive case with dermatophyte by two methods.Therefore, dermatophytosis could not be concluded due to the small number of positive cases. Meanwhile, Malassezia infection occurred mainly in dogs rather than cats at every age, and the infected rates were found more in exotic animals than in domestic animals and usually in males than females. The effect of treatments illustrated the significant improvement in Malassezia otitis by using Epiotic solution combined with Oridemyl ear drop. Moreover, great improvement was evident in dermatophytosis therapy with Itraconazole.