2002년 1월부터 2003년 12월까지 전북지역의 동물병원에 외이염으로 내원한 환자의 Malassezia pachydermatis 이환율을 조사하였다. 외이염으로 진단된 총 589두의 개에서 243두(37.6%)가 M pachydermatis에 감염되어 있었다. 외이염에 감염된 개의 품종, 나이, 계절, 귀의 형태 등과 M. pachydermatis의 이환율과의 상호 관계를 조사하였다. 연령별로는 1-2년, 계절은 여름철, 귀는 pendulous 형태의 귀가 이환율이 높게 나타났다. 특히 귀의 형태와 계절적인 요인이 M. pachydermatis 이환율과 가장 관계가 깊은 것으로 나타났다.
This study investigated the prevalence of Malassezia pachydermatis (M. pachydermatis) in dogs which were presented with otitis externa at the Chonbuk area from January 2002 to December 2003. A total of 589 dogs were diagnosed with otitis externa among which 243 (37.6%) dogs were affected with M pachydermatis. In addition, the prevalence of mutual relationship between the M. pachydermatis infection and ages, seasonality, breeds and ear types in otitis externa was investigated. The highest prevalence of M. pachydermatis was observed in 1 to 2 years age group, this was not statistically significant in comparison to other age groups. In summer, the prevalence of M. pachydermatis was significantly (p<0.01) higher ($57.06{pm}2.01$) as compared with than in the winter ($21.03{pm}3.56$), spring ($36.4{pm}6.95$) and fall ($35.9{pm}6.24$). A significantly (p<0.01) higher prevalence of M. pachydermatis was observed in pendulous ear dogs (49.1%) as compared to that in the erect ear dogs (23.6%). These results suggest that M. pachydermatis, the dominant causative organism of ear canal disease, strongly depends upon the seasonality and ear types.
