Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Essential oils tested against antifungal-resistant Malassezia in dogs
By Nojo, Honoka et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2025·Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology (TIMM), Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: In vitro susceptibility testing of essential oils and their main components against antifungal-resistant Malassezia pachydermatis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with skin and ear infections caused by a fungus called Malassezia pachydermatis were found to have strains resistant to common antifungal medications. Researchers tested natural compounds from essential oils, specifically carvacrol, citral, and thymol, to see if they could effectively combat these resistant strains. The results showed that these phytochemicals were effective at low concentrations against the resistant fungi. This suggests that using these natural alternatives could be a promising treatment for dogs suffering from antifungal-resistant skin and ear infections.
People also search for: dog skin infection treatment · essential oils for dog ear infection · antifungal-resistant dog dermatitis
Abstract
Canine Malassezia dermatitis (CMD) and otitis externa are generally treated by antifungal drugs. However, azole-resistant strains have been isolated from canine skin and ear canals worldwide. Phytochemicals isolated from essential oils are effective alternatives for inhibiting Malassezia pachydermatis. To evaluate the usefulness of phytochemicals against azole-resistant isolates, we performed in vitro susceptibility testing using the phytochemicals carvacrol, citral, and thymol. Eight antifungal-resistant isolates were obtained from 7 cases of dermatitis and 1 case of otitis externa during 2022 and 2023 from dogs in Tokyo and Kanagawa, Japan. Fungal susceptibility to carvacrol, citral, and thymol were assessed using the modified broth microdilution method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the phytochemicals in all isolates were as follows: 0.03 to 0.125% for carvacrol; 0.03 to 0.125% for thymol; and 0.03% to 0.125% for citral. Based on these results, carvacrol, citral, and thymol appear to be effective against azole-resistant strains. The phytochemicals appear to be effective for treating antifungal-resistant cases of CMD and otitis externa.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39662939/