Editorial

Abstract

In this issue, guidelines on two more very important conditions in veterinary dermatology are published. These documents adopt the same successful format developed and sponsored by the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology (WAVD) as used for the guidelines on infections caused by meticillin-resistant staphylococci, and on dermatophytosis of small animals that were published in Veterinary Dermatology volume 28, issue three of June 2017.1 The new guidelines deal with the diagnosis and treatment of demodicosis in dogs and cats, chaired by Ralf Mueller, and the biology, diagnosis and treatment of Malassezia dermatitis in dogs and cats, chaired by Ross Bond. They have already been presented in draft form at the North American Veterinary Dermatology Forum in Maui, Hawaii, and at the ESVD-ECVD Congress in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in 2018. The Malassezia guidelines were also presented at the Malassezia workshop of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) in Utrecht, the Netherlands in 2018. The guidelines comprehensively review the literature relating to these diseases, focusing on clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment, and they concisely summarise the consensus recommendations providing easy access to this essential information at the beginning of each text. Importantly, they also identify areas where lack of knowledge makes treatment and prevention of these conditions more difficult and where further research is needed. The Malassezia guidelines provide, in addition, a detailed review of the biology of this genus and illustrate the emerging knowledge that has led to the development of its taxonomy and the identification of multiple species of the organism. This examination of historical aspects of Malassezia yeasts as skin pathogens illustrates the way in which World War I and World War II retarded knowledge of the organism and its diseases both in animals and in man. The demodicosis guidelines also touch on sociological factors when they describe how the use of the isoxazoline drug, fluralaner, could be used to allow breeding of healthy puppies from bitches that are susceptible to generalised demodicosis and would otherwise have offspring likely to develop this disease. However, the authors warn against the temptation to adopt this approach as it would be likely to further increase susceptible canine populations. The importance of sociological factors in the management of disease both in animals and in man was a feature examined by Tony Barnett in an editorial accompanying the first set of WAVD guidelines.2 He reminded us that preparation of guidelines and their adoption depend not only on scientific knowledge and the approach taken by clinicians but also on attitudes towards the diseases and their control amongst dog breeders and owners. Such attitudes influence the demand for fashionable breeds, possibly promoting the breeding of dogs with increased susceptibility to diseases such as Malassezia dermatitis and demodicosis. We still need to find ways of informing potential owners about such issues and enabling them to understand the suffering and difficulties of management which are imposed on such animals. The WAVD has a continuing programme of guideline preparation aimed at promoting best practice in veterinary dermatology. Two more guidelines are currently reaching the final stages. They will deal with equine hypersensitivity, chaired by Rosanna Marsella, and best clinical practices in otitis of dogs and cats, chaired by Jim Noxon and will be presented at the 9th World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology in Sydney, Australia, in October 2020. All of the WAVD guidelines are to be published in Veterinary Dermatology with open access or free access so as to maximise their availability to and use by veterinary practitioners, both specialists and those in general practice, and also to research workers.