PRURITUS INVESTIGATION - REFERENCE CHART
STEP 1
Check parasitic
causes
Tape strip test technique: Use a piece of adhesive
cellophane tape and press it onto the skin.
Tape strip test technique: Take a slide. Put a drop of
lactophenol or mineral oil onto it. Then apply the tape
and observe.
Courtesy of: D. N. Carlotti
Courtesy of: D. N. Carlotti
Photomicrograph of Ctenocephalides felis Cheyletiella yasguri (x400).
felis. Courtesy of: D. N. Carlotti
Courtesy of: Royal Veterinary College, London
Microscopic view of adult Sarcoptes
scabei var. canis.
Courtesy of: D.N. Carlotti
Direct microscopic examination of a hair
infected by Microsporum canis.
Courtesy of: D.N. Carlotti
Skin scraping: 3 to 5 cutaneous sites are selected.
The hairs, if present, are clipped. Gently squeeze the skin
between thumb and forefinger.
Skin scraping: Moisten the skin with liquid paraffin or
lactophenol. Scrape the skin using a blunted scalpel
blade until capillary bleeding is observed.
Courtesy of: D.N. Carlotti
Courtesy of: D.N. Carlotti
Skin scraping: Apply some lactophenol drops on the
slide. Transfer the material onto it.
Courtesy of: D.N. Carlotti
STEP 2
Skin scraping: Apply a coverslip. The entire slide
is scanned using the 10x objective. Focus on
suspicious areas using the 40x objective.
Trichodectes canis.
Neotrombicula (x400).
Courtesy of: D.N. Carlotti
Courtesy of: D. N. Carlotti
Courtesy of: Royal Veterinary College, London
Microscopic view of Demodex canis
adults (x64).
Courtesy of: D. Pin
Check bacterial/fungal involvement
Malassezia dermatitis. (Diff-Quick stain).
Courtesy of: D. N. Carlotti
Surface direct impression smear: Press several
areas of the slide directly against the lesion. Let
the sample dry for 1-2 mins.
Performing an impression smear. Courtesy of: D. Pin
Tape strip test: Take a piece of clear cellophane
tape. Press it firmly several times in different
lesional areas. Fasten the sticky end of the
tape to a glass slide, then add a drop of purple
DiffQuick® stain and stick the tape down over it.
Cotton swab sampling: Gently remove the otic
discharge with a cotton bud. Gently transfer the
material onto a slide by rolling the cotton bud
along the surface.
Cotton swab sampling. Courtesy of: D. Pin
Cellophane tape test. Courtesy of: D. Pin
STEP 3
Cytologic picture of cocci overgrowth.
Courtesy of: D. N. Carlotti
Cytologic picture of rods overgrowth.
Courtesy of: D. N. Carlotti
Immerse the slide in the three different dyes
following the advised contact times. Rinse the
slide with water and blot them with a paper towel,
examination side upwards, until water is completely
absorbed.
Performing an impression smear. Courtesy of: D. Pin
Check allergic causes
Cytologic picture of a bacterial invasion. (superficial pyoderma)
(Diff-Quick stain).
Courtesy of: D.N. Carlotti
Perform complementary examinations
(e.g. Elimination diet test, Intra-Dermal Skin test)
Cytologic picture of a bacterial invasion (deep pyoderma).
Courtesy of: D. N. Carlotti
Dermatology range
Cortavance®
spray
Allermyl®
shampoo
Epi-soothe®
shampoo
Allerderm® Spot On
Complederm®
Effipro® Spot on
and Spray
Indorex®
spray
Sebomild P®
shampoo
Sebolytic®
shampoo
Cortavance POM-V contains hydrocortisone aceponate. EasOtic POM-V contains gentamicin, miconazole and hydrocortisone aceponate. Effipro spray POM-V and Effipro spot-on NFA-VPS contain fipronil. Microbex POM-V contains chlorhexidine digluconate. Paxcutol POM-V contains benzoyl peroxide. Rilexine
Further information available from Virbac Ltd. Woolpit Business Park, Windmill Avenue, Woolpit, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 9UP. 01359 243 243 [email protected] www.virbac.co.uk www.virbacderm.com Use medicines responsibly. www.noah.co.uk/responsible
Microbex®
shampoo
POM-V
contains cephalexin.
Paxcutol®
shampoo
Dermacool®
Spray
Rilexine®
palatable
Epi-Otic® EasOtic®