Prevalence of external ear disorders in Belgian stray cats

Abstract

Objectives Feline otitis externa is a multifactorial dermatological disorder about which very little is known. The objective of this study was to map the prevalence of external ear canal disorders and the pathogens causing otitis externa in stray cats roaming around the region of Ghent, Belgium. Methods One hundred and thirty stray cats were randomly selected during a local trap-neuter-return programme. All cats were European Shorthairs. This study included clinical, otoscopic and cytological evaluation of both external ears of each cat. Prospective data used as parameters in this study included the sex, age and body condition score of each cat, as well as the presence of nasal and/or ocular discharge, and the results of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) Snap tests. Results Remarkably, very few (sub)clinical problems of the external ear canal were found in the stray cat population. Malassezia species was by far the most common organism found in the external ear canals of the 130 stray cats. A total of 96/130 (74%) cats were found to have Malassezia species organisms present in one or both ears based on the cytological examination. No correlation was found between the parameters of sex, age, body condition score, the presence of nasal and/or ocular discharge and FIV and FeLV status, and the presence of parasites, bacteria or yeasts. Conclusions and relevance This study provides more information about the normal state of the external ear canal of stray cats. The ears of most stray cats are relatively healthy. The presence of Malassezia species organisms in the external ear canal is not rare among stray cats.

Otoscopy and aural cytological findings in a population of rescue cats and cases in a referral small animal hospital in England and Wales

“…5,6,12 This study found that the prevalence of O cynotis was low, recorded as 0.9%. This result is in agreement with a Belgian study (2%), 10 an Australian study (<0.1%) 13 and a Portuguese study (2.2%). 19 Far higher numbers were reported in a Greek study (25.5%), 20 an Italian study (29.4%) 11 and in a study from the USA (37%).…”

“…Only low numbers of saprophytes were found compared with a previous study, 10 most likely because most of the rescue cats were mainly housed indoors at time of sampling. The cats in this study were sampled throughout the spring and summer.…”

“…Only 6/341 cats were found to have low numbers of bacteria (1+ or 2+), which is very different from previous studies, where higher numbers of cats were found to have bacteria within the external ear canal. 5,6,10,11 These six cats with low bacterial counts were part of the non-otitis group (n = 6/302). As bacteria were only noted cytologically in nine cats and two of these had a space-occupying lesion present, mean bacterial values were not calculated.…”

“…9 A study performed in Belgium examined a stray population and reported 74% of cats to have Malassezia species in one or both ears based upon cytological examination alone. 10 Fifty-five percent of cats were found to have Malassezia species upon aural cytological examination and Otodectes cynotis were found in 29.4% of cats in an Italian study also examining stray cats. 11 In a study performed in France investigating pet cats, 15 healthy cats were examined and no Malassezia yeasts were detected; bacteria were isolated from a single ear.…”

An unusual case of feline otitis externa due to sporotrichosis

“…[1][2][3][4] It is a common ailment in small animals, occurring in 13-16% of the canine case population; 1 however, few data concerning the prevalence and incidence of feline otitis externa have been published. 2 The primary causes of this ailment are those that induce otitis externa directly; for example, foreign bodies or ectoparasites are the most common causes of feline external otitis. 3,4 Although some allergic cats will have concurrent otitis, the incidence is far lower than in dogs.…”