The spectrum of Malassezia species isolated from students with pityriasis vesicolor in Nigeria. Issue 4 (20th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ibekwe, P. U.; Ogunbiyi, A. O.; Besch, R.; Ruzicka, T.; Sárdy, M.
• Is Part Of: Mycoses. Volume 58:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 203
• Page End: 208
• Publication Date: 2015-02-20
• Subjects: Pathogenic fungi -- Periodicals; Medical mycology -- Periodicals; 616.969
• DOI: 10.1111/myc.12298
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0933-7407

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="myc12298-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a common superficial fungal infection of the skin caused by <italic>Malassezia</italic>. Initially <italic>M. furfur</italic> was suggested as its main aetiological agent; however, more recent studies suggest <italic>M. globosa</italic> as the dominant species. The possibility of a variance in predominant species based on geographical basis has not been fully evaluated. The objective of this study was to identify the <italic>Malassezia</italic> species on affected and non‐affected skin of students with PV who reside in a tropical environment (Abuja, Nigeria) and correlate them to clinical characteristics. In this study, the literature on prevalence of <italic>Malassezia</italic> genus in PV was also reviewed. Samples were taken from 304 PV lesions and 110 normal appearing skin. Microscopy, culture and identification of <italic>Malassezia</italic> species utilising polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were performed. Three <italic>Malassezia</italic> species were detected in PV with the major species being <italic>M. furfur</italic>. On normal appearing skin, <italic>M. furfur</italic> (77.6%) and <italic>M. restricta</italic> (10.4%) were both detected. No case of <italic>M. globosa</italic> was identified in this study. There was no significant difference between species identified and clinical features of PV. <italic>M. furfur</italic> is probably still the most predominant species causing PV in the tropical environment.</p> </abstract>