Identification of Malassezia species from Tunisian patients with pityriasis versicolor and normal subjects

Summary Background: The genus Malassezia (Pityrosporum), recognized as a member of microbiological flora of the skin in humans and warm‐blooded animals, has been recently revised to include 10 Malassezia species. The aim of the study was the isolation, identification and analysis of Malassezia speci...

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Published in:Mycoses 2005-07, Vol.48 (4), p.242-245
Main Authors: Salah, S. Ben, Makni, F., Marrakchi, S., Sellami, H., Cheikhrouhou, F., Bouassida, S., Zahaf, A., Ayadi, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Child
Child, Preschool
ecology
Female
Humans
identification
isolation
Malassezia - classification
Malassezia - cytology
Malassezia - isolation & purification
Malassezia - physiology
Malassezia furfur
Malassezia globosa
Malassezia restricta
Malassezia slooffiae
Malassezia species
Malassezia sympodialis
Male
Middle Aged
pityriasis versicolor
skin
Skin - microbiology
Tinea Versicolor - microbiology
Tunisia
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Summary:Summary Background: The genus Malassezia (Pityrosporum), recognized as a member of microbiological flora of the skin in humans and warm‐blooded animals, has been recently revised to include 10 Malassezia species. The aim of the study was the isolation, identification and analysis of Malassezia species distribution in skin of healthy volunteers and lesions of pityriasis versicolor (PV). Material and methods: Specimens were taken from 100 patients with PV and 30 healthy volunteers. Cultures were made in modified Dixon agar medium and the isolates were identified by morphological and physiological methods: macroscopy, microscopy, catalase, β‐glucosidase and lipid assimilation tests. Results: Malassezia globosa was the predominant species in lesional skin of PV (65%). It was isolated alone in 47% of cases and associated in 18% with M. furfur (13%) or M. sympodialis (5%). In healthy skin M. globosa was found alone in 7.77% and associated in 15.54%, respectively, with M. furfur (4.44%), M. sympodialis (4.44%), M. restricta (3.33%) and M. slooffiae (1.11%). Conclusion: From these findings it was suggested that M. globosa presents the main species implicated in the pathogenicity of PV and M. furfur as the second agent of importance.
ISSN:0933-7407
1439-0507
DOI:10.1111/j.1439-0507.2005.01091.x