Cutaneous carriage of Malassezia species in healthy and seborrhoeic Sphynx cats and a comparison to carriage in Devon Rex cats

Cutaneous carriage of Malassezia species yeast was investigated in 32 Sphynx cats, and in 10 domestic shorthair (DSH) cats. Samples for mycological culture were taken using contact plates and swabs at seven sites in each cat (left and right axillae and groin, left ear, claw fold on left front paw and the interdigital palmar web of the left front paw). Malassezia species were isolated from 26/32 Sphynx cats (81%) and from 0/10 DSH control cats. In five cases Malassezia species yeasts were isolated at a single site, in the remaining 21 Sphynx cats at multiple sites. A total of 73 Malassezia species isolates were made, of which 68 were Malassezia pachydermatis and five were lipid-dependent Malassezia. Five out of the 32 Sphynx had greasy seborrhoea, and all seborrhoeic cats had M pachydermatis isolated from their skin, at multiple sites. None of the 32 Sphynx had Malassezia species isolated from the ears. The difference in population sizes between Sphynx and DSH cats was significant (P ≤ 0.05) for the axillae, groins and claw fold. The difference in frequency of isolation was significant (P ≤ 0.05) for the axillae and right groin. The level of cutaneous carriage of Malassezia species in Sphynx was similar to that previously reported for Devon Rex cats (DRC) [Åhman S, Perrins N, Bond R. Carriage of Malassezia species yeasts in healthy and seborrhoeic Devon Rex cats. Med Mycol 2007; 45: 449-455]. The poor recovery of Malassezia species from ears in both Sphynx and DRC, has clinical implications for dermatological sampling in these breeds.