Veterinary Dermatology 2004, 15, 5356

Case report

Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis in a goat due to Malassezia pachydermatis

DIDIER PIN
223, chemin de Leysotte, 33400 Talence, France
(Received 28 May 2003; accepted 12 September 2003)

Abstract A 6-year-old female goat was presented with a seborrhoeic dermatosis of 5 months duration. The
condition developed following a severe enteritis associated with weight loss. Dermatological examination showed
a generalized greasy seborrhoeic dermatosis, which spared the head and extremities of the limbs. Microscopic
examination of impression smears of lesional skin revealed numerous yeasts typical of Malassezia sp. Culture
on Sabourauds dextrose agar yielded Malassezia pachydermatis growth. Histopathological examination of
haematoxylin/eosin and safranin (HES) stained sections of biopsies showed mild lymphocytic superficial perivascular hyperplastic dermatitis. Numerous budding yeasts were visible both on the surface, and follicular keratin,
in HES and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stained sections. A dramatic response was observed after 1 week of a topical anti-Malassezia treatment, and the resolution of the condition was complete after 4 weeks.
Keywords: dermatomycosis, goat, Malassezia dermatitis, skin.

INTRODUCTION
Yeasts of the genus Malassezia are lipophilic organisms
that are considered to be saprophytes of normal mammalian and avian skin,1 and are frequently recovered
from the skin of warm-blooded vertebrates. Currently,
the genus includes seven species: six are lipid-dependent,
and one, M. pachydermatis, is nonlipid-dependent.2 A case
of presumptive localized Malassezia dermatitis has been
described in goats.3 To date, only lipid-dependent
Malassezia species have been isolated from the skin
of goats.4 This report documents a case of Malassezia
dermatitis in a goat caused by M. pachydermatis.

CASE
A 6-year-old female goat was presented with a seborrhoeic dermatosis of 5 months duration. The condition followed a severe enteritis associated with weight
loss, appeared on the back and spread progressively to
involve the trunk. There were no other animals in the
environment and human contamination was not
reported. The goat was fed on grass, hay and bread.
On physical examination, the goat appeared in good
general health. The mucous membranes were normal
and no lymphadenomegaly was noted. The faeces
were of normal appearance. Pruritus was absent.
Dermatological examination showed a generalized
Correspondence: Didier Pin, Unit de Dermatologie, Service
dAnatomie Pathologique. Ecole Nationale Vtrinaire de Lyon BP
83, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy LEtoile, France. E-mail:
dpin_vetderm@hotmail.com
2004 European Society of Veterinary Dermatology

greasy seborrhoeic dermatosis, which spared the head

and extremities of the limbs (Fig. 1). The coat was dull
and easily epilated and widespread multifocal alopecia
was present (Fig. 2). The lesions included erythema,
hyperpigmentation, mild lichenification, large scales
and follicular casts.
The differential diagnoses included ectoparasite
infestations such as demodicosis, pediculosis and chorioptic mange; dermatophytosis; yeast dermatitis;
nutritional disease, particularly vitamin E/seleniumresponsive dermatosis; and effluvium telogen.
Multiple skin scrapings and coat brushings failed
to reveal any parasites. Direct examination of hairs
and Woods lamp examination were negative for dermatophytes. Microscopic examination of impression
smears of lesional skin, using the tape-strip technique,
revealed numerous spherical or oval-shaped yeasts
with unipolar budding and a distinct collarette, typical
of Malassezia sp. (Fig. 3). Samples of surface material,
collected using sterile swabs rubbed on lesional skin,
were taken and inoculated onto Sabourauds dextrose
agar with gentamycin and incubated at 32 C. After
2 days, round, small, smooth and creamy white colonies began to form on the surface of the plate. Microscopic examination of one of these colonies showed
yeasts with the typical morphology of Malassezia.5
Unfortunately, after a further day, a heavy mixed
growth of various fungi covered the surface of the
plate. Microscopic examination of the filamentous
fungi did not reveal dermatophytes. Subcultures for
further identification of the yeasts proved unsuccessful. Furthermore, tentative identification, by mean of
polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length
polymorphism (PCRRFLP) using paraffin embed53

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D. Pin

Figure 1. View of the trunk of the goat showing a generalized

seborrhoeic dermatosis.

Figure 2. Closer view of the trunk showing the greasy seborrhoea,

the dull coat and the multifocal alopecia.

Figure 4. Photomicrograph showing a lymphocytic superficial,

perivascular, hyperplastic, and spongiotic dermatitis (63, HES).

Figure 3. Photomicrograph of an impression smear from lesional

skin showing oval-shaped yeasts with unipolar budding and a distinct
collarette, typical of Malassezia sp. (1000, eosin-blue-RAL 555).

Figure 5. Photomicrograph showing numerous budding yeasts in

follicular keratin (1000, HES).

ded biopsies was also unsuccessful. Histopathological

examination of HES-stained sections of biopsies,
obtained from lesional skin on the trunk, showed a
marked orthokeratotic, focally parakeratotic, hyperkeratosis, an irregular epidermal hyperplasia with mild
spongiosis and a mild lymphocytic superficial perivascular dermatitis (Fig. 4). Hair follicles were dilated
and plugged with keratin and often devoid of hairs.
Numerous budding yeasts were visible both in the sur 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 15, 5356

face, and follicular keratin, in HES- and PAS-stained

sections (Fig. 5).
A tentative diagnosis of Malassezia dermatitis was
made. The treatment consisted of weekly baths in a
chlorhexidine containing shampoo (Pyoderm Virbac), followed by the application of a 0.2% solution of
enilconazole (Imaveral Janssen-Cilag), for 4 weeks.
A dramatic response was observed after 1 week and
resolution of the condition was complete after 4 weeks.
Seven weeks later, the goats coat was normal (Fig. 6)

Generalized Malassezia dermatitis in a goat

Figure 6. View of the trunk of the goat, 7 weeks after the diagnosis
and treatment, showing normal coat.

and cytological examination of the skin failed to reveal

any yeasts. No recurrence was observed for a 6-month
follow-up period. Based on the historical and clinical
findings, cytological and histopathological evidence of
Malassezia overgrowth, growth of Malassezia sp. colonies on Sabourauds dextrose agar, and a dramatic
response to antifungal treatment combined with cytological absence of Malassezia, the final diagnosis was
Malassezia dermatitis due to Malassezia pachydermatis.

DISCUSSION
Malassezia spp. yeasts have been isolated from the skin
of a variety of mammals and birds and have been
shown to induce disease in various species including
man, dog, cat, horse, rhinoceros, black bear and California sea lion.4,611 To the authors knowledge, no case
of generalized Malassezia dermatitis has been reported
in the goat. Malassezia slooffiae has been isolated from
the external ear canal of healthy goats.4 An outbreak of
presumptive tinea versicolor was reported in a herd of
milking goats.3 The lesions consisted of annular areas
of hypo- or hyperpigmentation with scaling margins
on the teats and udder. No cytological examination
was performed. On histopathological examination, PASpositive short, slightly curved structures associated
with clusters of oval or round thick-walled spores, were
seen in the epidermis. However, the causal fungus of
tinea versicolor in humans (Malassezia furfur) could
not be cultured. Anecdotally, Scott reported a case of
yeast dermatitis in a goat,12 clinically (a nonpruritic,
generalized, symmetrical dermatitis, characterized by
diffuse alopecia, scaling, crusting, greasiness and
lichenification) cytologically (numerous budding
yeasts) and histopathologically (a mild superficial
perivascular dermatitis with marked orthokeratotic
and parakeratotic hyperkeratosis and dilated and
plugged hair follicles) very similar to the case reported
here. Fungal cultures were negative. The diagnosis was
candidiasis, based on the presence of numerous budding yeasts and pseudohyphae in direct smears and
skin biopsy specimens.

55

This report documents a case of Malassezia dermatitis in a goat. The diagnosis was based on the presence
of elevated Malassezia populations on lesional skin
and the good clinical and mycological response to
topical antifungal therapy. Culture on Sabourauds
dextrose agar yielded Malassezia growth. To date, as
Malassezia pachydermatis is the only species of Malassezia that will readily grow on Sabourauds dextrose
agar, the causative Malassezia organism must be
M. pachydermatis. No further identification, by means
of physiological or genetic characteristics, was possible
because the growing yeast was swamped by other fungal elements present on the skin of the goat.
In this goat, cytological examination showed yeasts
of variable morphology with long, cylindrical, ovoid or
globose cells, suggesting that several species of Malassezia might have been present on its skin. Among them,
only a nonlipid-dependent species might have been isolated, because of the culture techniques employed. In a
study of 47 wild-type isolates of the genus Malassezia,
isolated from dogs and cats,13 > 80% of cultures
were mixed, comprising two or three Malassezia
species, including M. pachydermatis, M. furfur and
M. sympodialis. However, the methodology in this
study has been criticized and, according to Guhot and
Guillot,14 variable morphology more likely indicates
phenotypic differences within the Malassezia pachydermatis species than mixed populations.
The condition observed in this goat was very similar,
clinically and histopathologically, to the signs seen in
dogs with Malassezia dermatitis: an erythematous
greasy seborrhoeic dermatitis and superficial perivascular hyperplastic dermatitis, respectively. The single
difference is the absence of pruritus in the goat.
Because of the opportunistic behaviour of Malassezia
organisms, infection only occurs when there are changes
in the cutaneous environment or defence mechanisms.15
The conditions that influence the change from commensal to pathogen in the yeast are not fully understood.
In the dog, predisposing factors include increased cutaneous relative humidity, changes in skin surface lipids,
allergies, endocrinopathies, metabolic disorders and chronic glucocorticoid therapy.15,16 In this goat, the condition
developed following a severe intestinal disorder, which
caused malnutrition and might have been a predisposing
factor. Furthermore, the fact that topical medications
alone were very effective and that no relapse was observed for a 6-month period, suggests that this was a
secondary Malassezia dermatitis.

CONCLUSION
To the authors knowledge, this is the first report of
Malassezia dermatitis in a goat with cytological and
histopathological evidence of Malassezia overgrowth
and Malassezia colonies grown on Sabourauds dextrose agar. This condition was caused, at least in part,
by a nonlipid-dependent Malassezia species (Malassezia pachydermatis). Malassezia dermatitis must be

2004 European Society of Veterinary Dermatology, Veterinary Dermatology, 15, 5356

56

D. Pin

included in the differential diagnosis of seborrhoeic

disorders in goats.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author thanks Dr Jacques Guillot for the attempt
to tentatively identify the strain by PCRRFLP.

REFERENCES
1. Midgley, G., Guho, E., Guillot, J. Diseases caused
by Malassezia species. In: Collier, L., ed. Topley and
Wilsons Microbiology and Microbial Infections, Vol. 4
Medical Mycology, Part IV Superficial Basidiomycetous Yeasts, 9th edn. London: Arnold, 1998: 201
11.
2. Guho, E., Midgley, G., Guillot, J. The genus Malassezia
with description of four new species. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 1996; 69: 33755.
3. Bliss, E.L. Tinea versicolor dermatomycosis in the goat.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
1984; 184: 151213.
4. Guillot, J., Guho, E., Mialot, M. et al. Importance des
levures du genre Malassezia en dermatologie vtrinaire.
Le Point Vtrinaire 1998; 29: 691701.
5. Guillot, J., Guho, E., Lesourd, M. et al. Identification of
Malassezia species. A practical approach. Journal de
Mycologie Mdicale 1996; 6: 10310.

6. Guillot, J., Chermette, R., Guho, E. Prvalence du

genre Malassezia chez les Mammifres. Journal de
Mycologie Mdicale 1994; 4: 729.
7. Bond, R. Malassezia spp in horses: background to an
evolving subject in dermatology. Equine Veterinary Education 2002; 14: 1235.
8. Nell, A., James, S.A., Bond, C.J. et al. Identification and
distribution of a novel Malassezia species yeast on normal equine skin. Veterinary Record 2002; 150: 3958.
9. Guillot, J., Bond, R. Malassezia pachydermatis: a review.
Medical Mycology 1999; 37: 295306.
10. Salkin, I.F., Gordon, M.A., Stone, W.B. Pityrosporum
pachydermatis in a black bear (Ursus americanus). Sabouraudia 1978; 16: 358.
11. Guillot, J., Petit, T., Degorce-Rubiales, F. et al. Dermatitis caused by Malassezia pachydermatis in a California
sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Veterinary Record
1998; 142: 31112.
12. Scott, D.W. Large Animal Dermatology. Philadelphia:
W.B. Saunders, 1988: 1825.
13. Raabe, P., Mayser, P., Wei, R. Demonstration of
Malassezia furfur and M. sympodialis together with
M. pachydermatis in veterinary specimens. Mycoses 1998;
41: 493500.
14. Guho, E., Guillot, J. Comments on Malassezia species
from dogs and cats. Mycoses 1999; 42: 6734.
15. Matousek, J.L., Campbell, K.L. Malassezia dermatitis.
Compendium on Continuing Education 2002; 24: 22431.
16. Scott, D.W., Miller, W.H. Jr, Griffin, C.E. Muller and
Kirks Small Animal Dermatology, 6th edn. Philadelphia:
W.B. Saunders, 2001: 36374.

Rsum Une chvre ge de 6 ans a t prsente pour une dermatose sborrhique voluant depuis 5 mois. La maladie est apparue la suite dune entrite svre saccompagnant dune perte de poids. Lexamen dermatologique a
montr une dermatose sborrhique gnralise, pargnant toutefois la tte et lextrmit des membres. Lexamen
microscopique de calques cutans a montr de nombreuses levures, typiques de Malassezia sp. Une culture sur
milieu de Sabouraud a permis la pousse de colonies de Malassezia pachydermatis. Lexamen histopathologique
de biopsies colores lhmatine osine safran a montr une dermatite hyperplasique et un infiltrat inflammatoire privasculaire lymphocytaire. De nombreuses levures bourgeonnantes taient visibles en surface et dans la
kratine folliculaire sur les biopsies colores lHES et aprs raction au PAS. Une rponse rapide a t note aprs
une semaine dun traitement anti-Malassezia topique, et une gurison complte a t observe aprs 4 semaines.
Resumen Una hembra de cabra de 6 aos se present con una dermatosis seborreica de 5 meses de duracin. El
cuadro se desarroll tras una enteritis grave asociada a prdida de peso. El examen dermatolgico mostr una dermatosis seborreica oleosa generalizada, que respetaba la cabeza y las porciones distales de las extremidades. El
examen microscpico de improntas de la piel lesionada revelaba numerosas levaduras tpicas de Malassezia sp. El
cultivo en agar Sabouraud con dextrosa produjo un crecimiento de Malassezia pachydermatis. El examen histopatolgico de biopsias teidas con hematoxilina/eosina y safranina (HE & S) mostr una dermatitis hiperplsica
perivascular superficial linfoctica leve. Se identificaron numerosas levaduras en gemacin tanto en la queratina
superficial como folicular, en secciones teidas con HE & S y PAS. Se observ una respuesta espectacular despus
de una semana de tratamiento tpico anti-Malassezia, y la resolucin del proceso fue completa despus de 4 semanas.
Zusammenfassung Eine 6 Jahre alte Ziege wurde mit einer seborrhoeischen Dermatitis von 5-monatiger Dauer
vorgestellt. Die Krankheit entwickelte sich im Anschluss an eine ernste Enteritis, die mit Gewichtsverlust einherging.
Bei der dermatologischen Untersuchung zeigte sich eine generalisierte lige seborrhoeische Dermatitis, die nur
Kopf und Extremitten verschonte. Mikroskopische Untersuchung von Abklatschprparaten vernderter Haut zeigte
zahlreiche Hefepilz-Organismen, die das typische Aussehen von Malassezia sp. hatten. Kultur auf SabouraudDextrose-Agar zeigte Wachstum von Malassezia pachydermatis. Histopathologische Untersuchung von mit
Hmatoxylin/Eosin und Safranin (HE&S) gefrbten Schnitten von Biopsien zeigten eine geringgradige, oberflchliche, lymphozytische, perivaskulre hyperplastische Dermatitis. Zahlreiche sprossende Hefepilzorganismen
waren sowohl an der Oberflche als auch im follikulren Keratin in HE&S als auch periodic acid Schiff (PAS) gefrbten
Schnitten zu sehen. Eine dramatische Verbesserung konnte nach 1 Woche topischer Therapie mit Malasseziawirksamer Behandlung beobachtet werden und nach 4 Wochen war die Erkrankung vollstndig abgeheilt.
2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 15, 5356