Clinical and cytological evaluation of the external ear canal of dogs with otitis

Abstract

Objective: To study dogs bearing otitis externa, objectifying the detection of predisposing factors and microorganisms involved in the etiopathogenesis of this disease. Material and Method: Forty animals (30 of them had otitis externa and 1O without the disease) from the "Serviço de Clínica Médica da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Paulista", (Medical Clinic Service from the Veterinary Hospital of Paulista Veterinary Medicine University) São Paulo, SP, Brazil, were submitted lo prior physical otological examination. The ear secretion samples were obtained from external ear canal using gynecological brushes, submitted to posterior cytological analysis with the help of three different coloration techniques. Results: Among the patients with otitis, 60% was pure breed dogs, 60% female, 74% aged four years old onward, 60% had short-hair coat and 80% with pendulous ears. Gram method was shown as the most effective in the research of bacteria and fungus, and Papanicolau and Rosenfeld techniques were the most adequate to the observation of ephitelial and inflammatory cells and erythrocytes. The most common microorganism found in the extensions produced by the affected ears was Malassezia sp (63.3%). Conclusions: The results indicate that data collected from anamnesis and physical examination, jointly with information provided by the cytological study of ear secretions are efficient in characterizing the elements incriminated in the etiopathogenesis of canine otitis.