Inhibition of Malassezia dermatitis using Essential Oils and Antifungal

Malassezia dermatitis is a commensal yeast usually found in feline and canine species. The yeast presents as inflamed skin with a scaly texture, that irritates the feline and canine species causing them to itch. M. dermatitis is confirmed by a cytologic examination by observing the yeast, bacteria, and inflammatory cells in the suspected area. Factors, such as whether the infection is localized vs general, or underlying diseases are considered when determining the treatment plan for the pathogen. In the study conducted, a combination of 3 different types of antifungals and 3 different types of essential oils were used to determine the inhibitory effect of the yeast. A Minimal Inhibitory Concentration strip test was used to determine the antifungal with the best Inhibitory factor. A standard rate of essential oil was used alongside the antifungal with the highest inhibitory factor to determine if the combination of essential oil and antifungal would lead to a greater inhibitory rate. Lastly, the chosen essential oil was used at different concentrations with the chosen antifungal to determine optimal efficiency in the inhibition of the disease. We predict that the combination of antifungals and essential oils will allow for another treatment plan against M. dermatiti