Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heat-fixing ear discharge does not change yeast counts in dogs
By Griffin, J S et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine·2007·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Malassezia otitis externa in the dog: the effect of heat-fixing otic exudate for cytological analysis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 32 dogs with ear infections caused by Malassezia yeast were examined to see if heat-fixing the ear discharge would change the results of the tests. The infection was confirmed by looking at samples from their ears under a microscope. The study found that heating the samples did not significantly affect the number of yeast cells counted. This means that whether or not the ear discharge is heat-fixed, the results of the test remain reliable for diagnosing Malassezia infections in dogs.
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Abstract
This study was conducted on 32 dogs with Malassezia otitis externa to determine the effect of heat-fixing otic exudate on cytological analysis. Malassezia infection was confirmed by cytological examination of otic exudate. Otic discharge collected with cotton swabs was then rolled onto glass slides. One slide per dog was heat-fixed prior to staining; the other slide was not heat-fixed. The number of yeast in 10 oil-immersion fields (1000 x magnification) was counted for both slides from each dog. Heat-fixing did not systematically cause either increased or decreased numbers of Malassezia on cytology of otic exudate.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17877584/