Otitis externa is the most common disorder of the canine external ear canal, causing inflammation of ear canal, with or without infection. The yeast Malassezia pachydermatis is involved in an estimated 57% of all infections.
The authors examined the effect of heat-fixing otic exudate on subsequent cytological analysis. Exudate collected on cotton swabs was rolled on to glass slides and heat fixed before staining. It was found that there was no difference in the yeast numbers counted on treated and non-treated slides.
Journal of Veterinary Medicine (A) 54 (8):424-427.
Abstract reproduced by kind permission of Veterinary Practice magazine.