Study of Clinical and Infection Rate of Malassezia Pachydermatis in Pet Dogs With and Without Otitis Externa in Diyala Governorate

The study investigated the clinical signs and infection rates of Malassezia pachydermatis, a yeast that can become pathogenic in dogs, particularly focusing on those with otitis externa in Diyala Governorate from October 2015 to April 2016. Clinical signs such as alopecia, crusts, erythema, and pruritus were noted, and diagnosis was made through skin lesion examination and cytology. The infection rate was significantly higher in dogs with ear disease (90.2%) compared to healthy dogs (70.5%), with the right and left ears being the most common sites of infection (96.2% and 88.9%, respectively). German Shepherd dogs had a higher susceptibility to infection (97.5%) compared to crossbreeds (77.8%). The infection rate did not significantly correlate with the sex or age of the dogs but did show seasonal variation, with higher rates in January (94.7%) and February (94.4%) compared to December (84.6%).