Retrospective Study: The Presence of Malassezia in Feline Skin Biopsies. A Clinicopathological Study

This retrospective study evaluated the presence of Malassezia spp. in 550 feline skin biopsy specimens submitted for histopathological examination between January 1999 and November 2000. Malassezia organisms were found in 15 (2.7%) of the samples, primarily in the stratum corneum of the epidermis or follicular infundibulum. Eleven of these 15 cats exhibited acute multifocal to generalized skin lesions and were euthanized or died within 2 months of symptom onset. Seven cats showed signs of paraneoplastic alopecia, and three had interface dermatitis indicative of erythema multiforme or thymoma-associated dermatosis. The study concluded that the presence of Malassezia in dermatopathological specimens from multifocal or generalized lesions should prompt a thorough clinical investigation for internal neoplasia.