Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

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Volume 25

October - December 2009 (Part-I)

Number  5


 

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Isolation and identification of Malassezia spp.
In pytiriasis versicolor in Kashan, Iran

Rezvan Moniri1, Mehdi Nazeri2, Shokouh Amiri3, Babak Asghari4

ABSTRACT

Objective: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a chronic superficial fungal disease caused by Malassezia spp. The incidence is as high as 30-40% in tropical climates. Epidemiological data suggest geographical variations in the rate of the isolated species from PV. Our aim was to identify Malassezia spp. from PV patients in Kashan, Iran.

Methodology: Isolates of Malassezia were collected from 118 PV patients (75 males and 43 females). A direct microscopy with KOH and methylene blue was carried out. Cultures were made in modified Dixon agar medium and the isolates were identified by macroscopic and microscopic features, physiological characteristics (catalase test) and biochemical criteria (esculin and lipid assimilation tests). Data were analyzed statistically by software SPSS (version 11) and Fischer’s exact and descriptive statistical tests.

Results: The average age of 118 patients in this study was 28.42±8.53 years. The percentages of patients in this study were 64.4 and 35.6 for men and women respectively. Hyperhydrosis was reported as the most important finding with 58.1%. Back (42.2%) and extremities (7.4%) were the highest and the lowest involved parts respectively. The isolates found were M. globosa (43.8%), Malassezia furfur (38.4%), M. obtusa (9.8%), M. sympodialis (6.3%), and M. slooffiae (1.7%).

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.

KEY WORDS: Malassezia spp, Pityriasis versicolor.

Pak J Med Sci    October - December 2009 (Part-I)    Vol. 25 No. 5    837-840

How to cite this article:

Moniri R, Nazeri M, Amiri S, Asghari B. Isolation and identification of Malassezia spp. In pytiriasis versicolor in Kashan, Iran. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(5):837-840.


1. Rezvan Moniri,
Associate Professor of Microbiology,
Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology,
2. Mehdi Nazeri
Dept. of Mycology,
1,2: Kashan University of Medical Sciences,
Kashan - Iran.
3. MR Shokouh Amiri
Dept. of Mycology,
Tarbieyat Moddares,
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
4. Babak Asghari
Master of Medical Microbiology
Imam Hasan Mojtaba Hospital,
Iran University of Medical Sciences,
Iran.

Correspondence

Rezvan Moniri,
Associate Professor of Microbiology,
Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology,
Kashan University of Medical Sciences,
P.O.Box: 87155-111
Kashan – Iran.
E-mail: moniri@kaums.ac.ir

* Received for Publication: December 3, 2008

* Revision Received: July 18, 2009

* Revision Accepted: July 24, 2009



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