Cytology of Ear in Health and Diseases

Ear diseases represent one of the most common clinical presentations in dogs seen by small animal practitioners. These conditions can arise from primary causes, secondary causes, and perpetuating factors, all of which are essential to identify for successful management. Cytology, the study of cells, offers a nonexpensive, readily available, and low cost diagnostic tool that can be utilized to screen dogs with ear diseases. The ear infection can be judged by the clinical examination, ear examination by otoscopy, imaging diagnostics, cytological intervention, and proper treatment should be undertaken based on the severity and duration of the infection in the ear. Cytology proves useful to clinicians for assessing the origin of types of infectious, such as yeast, mites, and bacteria; presence of types of leukocytes. In cases of recurrent or non-responsive ear diseases, cytology should be complemented with culture and susceptibility testing. Yeast, including Malassezia and Candida, can be identified on cytology by their specific morphology on cytology, which is crucial for selecting appropriate topical ear medications. Cytology also provides valuable information about mite infestations and the intensity of mite populations. It serves as a useful tool to assess the endpoint of therapy and ensure the resolution of infection. Additionally, cytology aids in decision-making by guiding the selection of antimicrobial medications and /or proceeding with further diagnostic methods, while also determining the endpoint of therapy. In cases where first-line therapy fails or bacilli are present, bacterial culture with an evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility is recommended. A comparison of healthy control dogs and clinical cases revealed significantly higher levels of organisms and inflammatory cells in the latter, with Malassezia pachydermatis isolated in both infected and healthy ears of dogs. Cytological examination of impression smears is a straightforward, readily applicable, and minimally cost-involved diagnostic method to provide the identification of etiological agents, which include bacteria, fungi, and mites. Processing and making the dermatological diagnostic cytological slide requires only professional skill without any special equipment, which can be evaluated in less time in routine clinical settings. Before receiving culture and sensitivity results, the immediate results of cytology are invaluable for making informed diagnostic decisions during consultations.

Keywords: Bacteria, Cells, Cytology, Dog, Diagnosis, Ear diseases, Fungi, Mites.