Malassezia dermatitis, it’s possible a transmission from dog to man
Pododermatitis in dogs
January 25, 2021
Veterinarian as a guide to adoption
February 22, 2021
Malassezia dermatitis, it's possible a transmission from dog to man
Malassezia is a yeast normally present on the skin of dogs and cats that is transmitted to the puppy at the time of birth, frequent in wild and domestic carnivores, including bears, ferrets, and foxes. Both healthy and affected animals develop, in fact, serum IgG antibodies recognizing Malassezia derived proteins can be harmful to man?[1]
Lievito Malassezia
in healthy animals, Malassezia is a commensal living in symbiosis for the duration of animal’s life, without necessarily causing illness.
There are several causes of the proliferation of malassezia, which in fact alter the delicate skin ecosystem.
The factors predisposing to the multiplication of this yeast and to the related disease are mainly:
- allergies
- endocine diseases
- immune diseases
- antibiotic treatments [2]
Furthermore, as already in other canine pathologies, there are some breeds more predisposed than others, such as, for instance:
• Bulldog • Cane Corso • Maltese • Barboncino • Golden Retriever • Cocker Spaniel
The symptoms of Malassezia
About symptomatology, the first manifestation is dictated by the itching of the animal and bad smell.
Characteristic signs are erythema, exfoliation (dandruff), flaking
Seborrhea and alopecia as side effect.
In chronic cases, thickening and dark skin color may also be observed.
The most affected areas are:
- interdigital spaces
- skin folds
- armpits
- neck
- groin
- perianal region. [3]
Malassezia is often associated with external otitis
and can also affect the nails: in this case an oily material of dark color can be present at the base of the nails.
The best way to make a diagnosis is a cytological examination, thanks to the ease of identification of yeasts, however, it remains essential to identify the concomitant disease that predisposes to the uncontrolled multiplication of yeasts.
The use of topical and/or systemic antifungal drugs is indicated for at least 3 - 4 weeks in order to eliminate yeast. The combined use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory is recommended.
Malassezia from dog to man
Malassezia dermatitis is not contagious to other animals or humans, although it has been found to cause fungemia and other nosocomial infections in preterm newborns and immunocompromised adults.However, few studies have examined the prevalence of M pachydermatis carriage in humans, especially in pets’ owners. In 200 healthy subjects, 24 (12%) were found to have low numbers of M pachydermatis on the scalp and palms according to fungal culture. Meanwhile, in another study, M pachydermatis was present on the skin of less than 1% of healthy volunteers and approximately 2% of patients with dermatitis who underwent fungal culture.
The combination of oral fluconazole and adjunctive cryotherapy is effective in the treatment of skin infection due to M pachydermatis and the effectiveness of cryotherapy may be related to the vegetative character of the yeast [3]
