Identification of Malassezia Species Isolated from Pityriasis Versicolor by CHROMagar-Medium

Abstract

ityriasis versicolor is a chronic superficial fungal infection seen worldwide, with high prevalence observed in hot and humid climates. The phylogenetic profiling of the skin microbiome revealed that fungi are part of the normal skin flora at all body sites and comprise 1%–22% of the phylogenetic composition of the skin microbiome. The fungal flora of the healthy skin almost exclusively comprises of Malassezia spp. Thus Malassezia spp. is considered the main eukaryotic member of microbial flora of the skin. Pityriasis versicolor is the only skin infection where malassezia plays a definitive role, although the species implicated remains a matter of discussion. The aim of this work was to isolate and identify Malassezia species from pityriasis versicolor using specific fast growth media; Chromagar to obtain a better understanding of the role of each species in the etiology of disease. This study was conducted on 70 patients with clinical diagnosis of pityriasis versicolor with positive KOH test. All of the participants were subjected to a well informed consents, full history taking including age, sex, site of the lesions and any previous treatment, full general and dermatological examination to determine site, color of the lesions and Wood's light examination.