Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Malassezia yeast linked to eyelid inflammation and eye discharge
By Newbold, Georgina M et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2014·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Malassezia spp on the periocular skin of dogs and their association with blepharitis, ocular discharge, and the application of ophthalmic medications.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that some dogs with eye problems, like discharge or blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), had a type of yeast called Malassezia on their eyelid skin. Out of 84 dogs, 19 samples showed this yeast, especially in those with mucoid or mucopurulent discharge and those receiving certain eye medications. This suggests that if your dog has eye discharge or is on eye drops, it might be worth checking for Malassezia, as it could be contributing to their symptoms. Treatment options may include addressing the yeast if it's present.
People also search for: dog eye discharge treatment · Malassezia in dogs · blepharitis in dogs · dog eye medication side effects
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine how frequently Malassezia spp were identified on the periocular skin of dogs and assess the respective associations between the presence of Malassezia spp on the periocular skin and blepharitis, ocular discharge, and the application of ophthalmic medications. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: 167 eyelids of 84 dogs. PROCEDURES: Samples obtained from the surface of the eyelid skin by use of adhesive tape were evaluated cytologically for the presence of Malassezia spp. Dogs were grouped on the basis of the presence of blepharitis, nature of ocular discharge, and whether ophthalmic medications were applied, and the proportion of samples with Malassezia spp was compared among the groups. RESULTS: Malassezia spp were detected in 19 samples, of which 15 were obtained from eyes without blepharitis and 14 were obtained from eyes treated with topical ophthalmic medications. The proportion of samples with Malassezia spp was significantly higher for eyes with ocular discharge than for eyes without ocular discharge, especially if that discharge was mucoid or mucopurulent, and for eyes that were treated with aqueous-based medications only or a combination of oil- and aqueous-based medications than for eyes that were not treated. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Malassezia organisms were detected on the periocular skin of 3 of 56 (5%) clinically normal dogs. Malassezia organisms were also frequently found on the periocular skin of dogs that had mucoid or mucopurulent ocular discharge or that were administered topical aqueous-based ophthalmic medications, and the periocular skin of these dogs should be cytologically evaluated for Malassezia organisms.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24846431/