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Abstract

Prevalence of Malassezia in the ear canals of healthy and otitic buffaloes was studied. Ear swabs were collected from 121 otitic (uni or bilateral) buffaloes (166 ears) and 20 (40 ears) apparently healthy buffaloes. Mycological analysis was carried out by roll swab for cytology and fungal culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar. Secretion or, cerumen were collected with two sterile swabs Cytological examination by roll swab technique was done by gently rolling one swab on to a clean glass slide and stained with New Methylene Blue and examined under oil immersion. The second swab was inoculated into Sabouraud’s Dextrose broth. The broth culture was streaked onto Sabouraud’s Dextrose agar, supplemented with olive oil, and incubated at 32°C for one week. On cytological examination, 47.5 per cent of healthy and 50.6 per cent of otitic ears showed typical Malassezial cells. The density of Malassezial organisms was greater than 30 organisms per field in majority of otitic ears. Cultural examination revealed that 59.0 per cent of the otitic ears were positive for Malassezia species, indicating higher sensitivity. Malassezia from otitic ears was isolated either in combination with bacteria (18.7%), parasites (21.1%) or both (19.3%). Though Malassezia was prevalent in both healthy and otitic ears, the presence of higher density of organisms in otitic ears might suggest their probable contribution to the pathogenesis of otitis.