- 1a Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie , Università degli Studi di Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
- 2b Dipartimento di Farmacia , Università degli Studi di Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
- 3c Scuola Cimi Koinè , Roma , Italy.
Abstract
Several plants extracts from Mediterranean countries are traditionally employed in skin
troubles both in humans and in animals. Malassezia pachydermatis is a
lipophylic yeast responsible for otitis externa and dermatitis in dogs
and for cutaneous and systemic disease in humans. Five mixtures of
essential oils obtained from Mediterranean plants (Citrus paradisi, Salvia sclarea, Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Citrus
limon, Anthemis nobilis, Lavandula hybrida and Thymus vulgaris)
provided with antifungal and/or anti-inflammatory action assayed in
vitro, were tested in vivo versus M. pachydermatis to treat once daily
for 2 weeks 25 atopic dogs with Malassezia otitis externa. Mixture
composed by C. limon 1%, S. sclarea 0,5%, R. officinalis 1%, A. nobilis
0,5% yielded excellent results in all treated dogs. Despite of clinical
resolution after all treatments the number of blastospores did not
decrease. This study confirms recent findings suggesting a
multifactorial alternative approach for the management of canine
Malassezia otitis.
KEYWORDS:
Essential oils; Malassezia; dog; mixtures; otitis externa; treatment
