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Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery logoLink to Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
. 2010 Dec 1;12(12):917–922. doi: 10.1016/j.jfms.2010.07.002

Malassezia pachydermatis and M nana predominate amongst the cutaneous mycobiota of Sphynx cats

Andrea V Volk 1, Clare E Belyavin 2, Katarina Varjonen 3, Marie-Christine Cadiergues 4, Kim B Stevens 5, Ross Bond 6
PMCID: PMC11135549  PMID: 20863732

Abstract

Carriage of Malassezia species yeasts in healthy Sphynx cats was compared with that in Devon Rex cats (DRC), Cornish Rex cats (CRC) and domestic shorthair (DSH) cats. Swab samples from the external ear, anus and claw folds, and contact plate samples from the axillae and groins, were incubated on modified Dixon's agar at 32°C for 7 days. Malassezia species were isolated from all 18 Sphynx cats; M pachydermatis accounted for 118/140 isolates. Of 20 isolates of M nana, 16 were recovered from the ear canal. M slooffiae was isolated from the claw fold of one cat and the left groin of another. The high counts of M pachydermatis obtained from the axillae, groins and claw folds of the Sphynx cats exceeded those of healthy DSH, CRC and DRC; axillary populations were comparable to those of seborrhoeic DRC. These data support recent reports of high Malassezia species colonisation in Sphynx cats.

Contributor Information

Andrea V. Volk, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK

Clare E. Belyavin, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK

Katarina Varjonen, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK.

Marie-Christine Cadiergues, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK.

Kim B. Stevens, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK

Ross Bond, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK  rbond@rvc.ac.uk.

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