Korean J Dermatol.  1997 Aug;35(4):736-743.

Malassezia Species Cultured from the Lesions of Pityriasis Versicolor

• Ahn KJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The genus Mulassezia. was recently revised into seven species, M. furfur, M pachydermatis, M sympodialis, M. globosa, M. obtusa, M. restricta and M. slooffiae. Some of the Malassezia species were known to be the etiological agent of pityriasis versicolor.
OBJECTIVE
The study was done to place the Malassezia strains cultured from the lesions of pityrisis versicolor into one of The revised species and to elucidate the relationship between certain species and pityriasis versicolor.
METHODS
The scales from the lesions of twenty cases of pityrisis versicolor were cultured on Leeming & Notmans media. The obtained strains were placed into one of seven species by their colony morphologies, microscopic morphologies and physiological characteristics.
RESULTS
The strains obtained from twenty cases of pityriasis ver sicolor could be placed into one of four species as following incidences. 1 case of M. furfur, 3 cases of M. sympodialis, 15 cases of M globosa, 1 case of M. obtusa, M, globoso occupied the most commonly isolated species cultured from the lesions of pityriasis versicolor.
CONCLUSION
The results suggested that M. globosa could be consider ed as a main etiological agent of pityriasis versicolor among the Malassezia species.

Keyword

Malassezia species; Malassezia globosa; Pityriasis versicolor

MeSH Terms

Incidence
Malassezia*
Pityriasis*
Tinea Versicolor*
Weights and Measures