Isolation and Identification of Malassezia Species from Lesional and Non-lesional Sites of Patients with Pityriasis Versicolor / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the distribution of Malassezia species in lesional and non-lesion-al sites of patients with pityriasis versicolor(PV),species-variation in different anatomic sites and in lesions with different pigmentation,and the relationship between various Malassezia species and severity and age of PV patients.Methods A total of629skin specimens taken by sterile adhesive tape from the lesions and non-lesional skin were inoculated on media containing rapeseed oil in113patients with PV.Isolated colonies were identified to species based on physiological and morphological characteristics.Results The isolation rates of Malassezia spp.were not significantly different from both lesions and corresponding non-lesional skin.Among non-lesional sites,the isolation rate was significantly higher in forehead and trunk than that in upper and lower extremities.Five species were identified out of565strains obtained from the patients,including M.sympodialis(44.78%),M.furfur(32.94%),M.globosa(11.68%),M.obtusa(5.84%)and M.restricta(4.76%).Two dif-ferent species were isolated simultaneously from27sites.There was no obvious difference in species distribu-tion patterns between lesions and non-lesional sites.M.restricta was isolated from forehead exclusively.Species-variation was closely linked to lesions with different pigmentation and the age of patients,not to the severity of disease.Conclusion There is neither statistical difference of Malassezia isolation rate and species distribution between lesions and non-lesional skin,nor correlation between disease severity and species-varia-tion.The anatomic sites,the diversity of pigmentation pattern and the age of patients seem to be associated with different Malassezia species.