Conventional Characterization and PCR based Diagnosis of Malassezia pachydermatis from Cerumen of Healthy Indian Cats

Abstract

Malassezia pachydermatis, a non-obligatory lipophilic yeast has been standing in the focus of interest because of its highly zoonotic nature. Systemic infections in immunocompromised patients, biofilm formation and causing relapses are common and recently they have been classified as an emergent pathogen. A total of 236 cerumen samples were collected from both the ear canal of 118 adult cats without otitis externa and subjected simultaneously to both conventional and molecular tests. Samples were inoculated on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar with 1% sterile olive oil and incubated at 37°C for 2-4 weeks. Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed after extracting the DNA directly from cerumen samples. The present study established nested PCR as a sensitive and rapid technique for detection of the M. pachydermatis. The study also revealed the risk of the companion animal owners because a moderately high percentage of healthy cats acted as a carrier of M. pachydermatis.