Abstract
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Malassezia are unipolar yeasts that comprised from eleven species and recognized as commensally skin flora that may be pathogenic under certain conditions.
OBJECTIVE:
To isolate and identify different species of Malassezia in Iraqi patients with pityriasis versicolor.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This case investigative study was done in Microbiology and Dermatology Departments, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad- Baghdad, Iraq during the period from April 2008 - October 2008.
One hundred patients had pityriasis versicolor were evaluated regarding all points related to the disease. Wood's light and skin scraping for mycological examinations were done. Methylene blue stained samples were examined for the presence of clusters of yeasts, budding cells, and hypha. Tween assimilation and splitting of esculin tests were carried out.
RESULTS:
The most common isolated species were Malassezia globosa 40(51%), followed by Malassezia furfur 24(30%), Malassezia symbodialis 8(10%), Malassezia obtuse 5(6%) and Malassezia restricta
2(3%).
CONCLUSION:
Malassezia globosa was the most predominant species involved in etiology of pityriasis versicolor lesions followed by Malassezia furfur.
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