Which of the following would be considered an abnormal finding on healthy canine external ear canal cytology?

Which of the following would be considered an abnormal finding on healthy canine external ear canal cytology?

• A. Cerumen
• B. Malassezia
• C. Epithelial cells
• D. Debris

Answer: (B)

In a healthy canine external ear canal, you’d expect to see normal debris, exfoliated epithelial cells, and cerumen. Malassezia is a yeast that can be a normal inhabitant, but it should not be present in large numbers in a healthy canal. When Malassezia is abundant on cytology, it indicates yeast overgrowth associated with otitis externa or an inflammatory state. So the abnormal finding in a healthy canal is the presence of Malassezia in significant numbers. The other components—cerumen, epithelial cells, and debris—are typical and not abnormal in this context.

In a healthy canine external ear canal, you’d expect to see normal debris, exfoliated epithelial cells, and cerumen. Malassezia is a yeast that can be a normal inhabitant, but it should not be present in large numbers in a healthy canal. When Malassezia is abundant on cytology, it indicates yeast overgrowth associated with otitis externa or an inflammatory state. So the abnormal finding in a healthy canal is the presence of Malassezia in significant numbers. The other components—cerumen, epithelial cells, and debris—are typical and not abnormal in this context.