PMID: 11906654Mar 22, 2002Paper

Epidermal dysplasia and Malassezia infection in two West Highland White Terrier siblings: an inherited skin disorder or reaction to severe Malassezia infection?

Veterinary Dermatology
C S NettC E Reusch

Abstract

Two 9-month-old West Highland White Terrier siblings were referred to our clinic with pruritus, alopecia and lichenification. Cytological examination of Scotch tape strippings revealed Malassezia organisms and cocci. Skin biopsy specimens showed epidermal dysplasia. Treatment included bathing with a 2% miconazole/chlorhexidine-containing shampoo, orally administered ketoconazole (5 mg kg-1, every 12 h) and cloxacillin (25 mg kg-1 every 8 h). Six weeks later, the dermal infection had resolved and there was hair regrowth. However, the dogs were still moderately pruritic. Intradermal allergy testing was positive for house dust mites, storage mites and Malassezia. Immunotherapy was initiated, and treatment with ketoconazole and cloxacillin was stopped. Skin biopsies, which were performed in both dogs 4 months after the first presentation, revealed mild superficial perivascular dermatitis. The remaining mild facial pruritus was easily controlled with topical treatment. These two cases indicate that epidermal dysplasia might be an inflammatory or hypersensitivity reaction to the Malassezia infection or a result of excessive self-trauma, rather than a congenital keratinization disorder.

References

May 1, 1990·Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology·M KiefferE Svejgaard
Sep 1, 1994·Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology·J Faergemann
May 1, 1995·The British Veterinary Journal·J Akerstedt, I Vollset
Jan 1, 1997·Mycoses·J Faergemann
Nov 24, 1999·The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice·D O Morris

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Citations

Jun 17, 2004·American Journal of Veterinary Research·Tai-An ChenPeter B Hill
Mar 30, 2010·Clinics in Dermatology·Ross Bond
May 9, 2007·The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science·Koji NishifujiToshiroh Iwasaki

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