Dermatology - diagnostic techniques Flashcards
What are some diagnostic techniques that are used in dermatology?
Acetate tape
Skin scrapings
Direct impressions with slides - cytology
Indirect impressions with swabs
Flea comb
Trichogram
What can you use acetate tape to test for?
Malassezia, bacteria, inflammatory cells
What does a deep skin scrape test for?
Demodex mites
What does a superficial skin scrape test for?
Small animals - cheyletiella, sarcoptes
Large animals - chorioptes and psoroptes
What can you use a flea comb to test for?
Fleas, cheyletiella
What is a trichogram?
Hair pluck
What can you use a trichogram to test for?
Demodex
Mites
Lice eggs
Growing stages - anagen, telogen
Evidence of pruritus
Dermatophytosis
What is important to remember about allergen testing?
It is not a diagnostic test for allergy
It can only identify allergens of potential significance in canine atopic dermatitis for making allergen specific immunotherapy
What kind of test is allergen testing?
Intradermal test
How does allergen specific IgE serology work?
It tests for IgE antibody which bind to it rather than the mast cells they usually bind to
What do allergy tests for IgE suggest?
Only imply clinical significance if the history is relevant
Poorly validated
What diagnostic tests can you do in dermatology that involve tissues?
Culture, PCR, dermatopathology
