The prevalences of breeds and concurrent diseases in a group of 40 dogs with pruritic skin disease associated with elevated cutaneous Malassezia pachydermatis populations were compared with samples of a dermatological hospital population. The ages and genders of the affected dogs were comparable to those of the dermatology population. Basset hounds, cocker spaniels and West Highland white terriers were significantly overrepresented. Concurrent diseases were diagnosed in 27 dogs, of which 15 were atopic. However, the prevalences of atopic disease, primary keratinisation defects and endocrinopathies in dogs with elevated cutaneous M pachydermatis populations were comparable to those in the dermatology population as a whole. These results indicate that certain breeds are predisposed to the development of elevated cutaneous M pachydermatis populations and that concurrent skin diseases can frequently be identified in affected dogs. However, the relationship between these concurrent diseases and abnormal M pachydermatis populations remains unclear.

Abstract— Twenty‐one perennially affected atopic dogs with previous intradermal test reactivity to two or more environmental allergens were retested while receiving either a combination of evening primrose oil and fish oil (EfaVet Regular, Efamol Vet) or a concentrated supplement containing gammalinolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (HGF capsules). Significant differences in the mean number of positive reactions before and during therapy were not found. In addition, the mean histamine, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and housedust wheal diameters before and during therapy were not significantly different. However, the mean human dander wheal diameter was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) at the second test, and the mean Dermatophagoides farinae wheal diameter was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in a group of seven dogs which had received long‐term essential fatty acid supplementation with HGF capsules. These results indicate that essential fatty acid supplementation does not abrogate but may reduce intradermal test reactivity in atopic dogs. Résumé— Vingt et un chiens atopiques, présentant des symptômes non saisonniers, ayant eu des tests cutanés positifs à au moins un pneumallergène ont été testés alors qu'ils recevaient une association d'huile d'onagre et d'huile de poisson (Efa Vet Regular, Efamol Vet) ou un supplément concentré d'acides gammalinolénique et éicosapentaénoique (capsules HGF). Aucune différence significative dans le nombre moyen de réactions positives avant et après traitement n'a été observée. En outre les diamètres moyens des réactions à l'histamine. Dermatophagoïdes pteronyssinus et la poussère de maison avant et après traitement n'étaient pas significativement différents. Toutefois, le diamètre moyen des réactions aux squames humaines étaient significativement réduits (P < 0,05) lors du second test, et le diamètre moyen des réactions àDermatophagoïdes farinaeétait significativement réduit (P < 0,05) dans un groupe de sept chiens ayant reçu une supplémentation à long terme de capsules HGF. Ces résultate montrent qu'une supplementation en acides gras essentiel n'anihile pas les tests cutanés mais peu modérer la réactivité cutanée chez certains chiens atopiques. Resumen  Veintiún perros atópicos de tipo estacional que presentaban reactividad positiva en la prueba de inyacciones intradérmicas con respecto a dos o más alergenos ambientales, fueron sometidos a una segunda prueba recibiendo simultáneamente una combinación de aceite de Evening Primrose y aceite de pescado (Efa Vet Regular, Efamol Vet) o un concentrado que contenía ácidos gammalinoleico y ecosapentanoico (HGF cápsulas). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la media de las reacciones positivas antes y después de la medicación. Tampoco se encontraron diferencias significativas entre las medidas del diámetro de la roncha producida por la histamina, el Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus y el alergeno del polvo. Sin embargo, la media del diámetro producido por el alergeno de la caspa humana se vió considerablemente reducida en el...

Clinical status and plasma phospholipid fatty acids of 33 horses with seasonal pruritus were investigated following fatty acid supplementation. Principal areas aected by pruritus were mane, tail, head and rump. There were no signi®cant dierences in clinical status between horses receiving test and placebo capsules. Horses receiving the test preparation showed signi®cant reduction (weeks 0±12) in linoleic acid (P 5 0.05) and signi®cant increases (weeks 0±24) in dihomogammalinolenic acid and alpha linolenic acid (P 5 0.05). Placebo-treated horses showed signi®cant reductions (weeks 0±12) in linoleic acid, dihomogammalinolenic acid, arachidonic acid (P 5 0.01), eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (P 5 0.05) and a signi®cant increase (weeks 0±24) in dihomogammalinolenic acid (P 5 0.05). Signi®cant dierences in the change in plasma phospholipid concentration between test and placebo groups were seen for dihomogammalinolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (P 5 0.01) between weeks 0 and 12 and for alpha linolenic acid (P 5 0.05) between weeks 0 and 24.