Canine Ear Mite, Otodectes Cynotis, Found on Both Tympanic Membranes of an Adult Woman.

A female patient had been suffering from intermittent tinnitus for several days. An otomicroscopic examination revealed a small mite moving on the tympanic membrane. The tinnitus increased when the mite was moving around the pars tensa and disappeared when the mite was moving on the surface of the external ear canal. After removal of the mite, the tinnitus disappeared. The mite was identified as Otodectes cynotis, which causes ear mange in dogs and cats. The patient had kept a dog and a cat inside her house for one year as pets. Examination of their ears revealed many Otodectes cynotis in the external ear canals. It was assumed that the patient was infected with Otodectes cynotis from those animals. As far as we know, this is the first case to be reported of a mite on the tympanic membrane. It is important to be concerned about parasite infestation from pet animals.