Colonisation status of Malassezia pachydermatis on the hair and in the hair follicle of healthy beagle dogs

Hair and hair follicle carriage of 12 Malassezia pachydermatis was studied in 12 healthy beagle dogs. The yeast was isolated from hair clipped from th e lip region at 13 sites in nine dogs but was less frequently recovered fro m the interdigital spaces on the forefeet and from two sites on the trunk. Population sizes at the lip were significantly greater (P < 0.01) than thos e at other sites. Skin biopsy specimens were obtained from the same sites a nd epidermal and follicular tissues dissected following immersion in 1 M Ca Br2. Epidermal carriage of M. pachydermatis was identified in nine biopsy s pecimens taken from five dogs. Hair follicle carriage was identified in fiv e skin specimens (four foot, one lip) from three dogs. This study indicates that M. pachydermatis is readily recovered from the distal hair in healthy dogs and that hair follicle carriage is infrequent or that populations are low at that site.