Subject(s)
Cryptococcosis/diagnosis , Dermatomycoses/diagnosis , Erythema Nodosum/complications , Erythema Nodosum/diagnosis , Leprosy, Lepromatous/diagnosis , Aged , Biopsy, Needle , Cryptococcosis/complications , Cryptococcosis/drug therapy , Dermatomycoses/complications , Dermatomycoses/drug therapy , Fluconazole/administration & dosage , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Leprosy, Lepromatous/complications , MaleABSTRACT
Seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) is a disease that affects 1-3% of the general population, 3-5% of young adults and 20-83% of patients with AIDS. Malassezia yeasts have been associated with the pathogenesis of this condition. The association between the Malassezia yeasts and HIV-related SD is still a controversial subject. The objective of our study was to investigate the role of Malassezia yeasts in the pathogenesis of SD in the HIV population comparing the number of yeasts' cells with the severity of the disease and degree of immunosuppression. We used two quantitative counting methods: direct counting with Sellotape-stripped skin and recovery of the yeasts in culture using contact plates. This investigation has demonstrated that there is a trend between numbers of yeasts present on lesional skin, severity of SD and CD4-positive T lymphocytes count in HIV-positive patients. No quantitative differences were observed between HIV-related and non-HIV related SD.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis, Seborrheic/microbiology , Dermatomycoses/microbiology , HIV Infections/complications , Malassezia/isolation & purification , Adult , CD4 Lymphocyte Count , Colony Count, Microbial , Dermatitis, Seborrheic/complications , Face , Female , Humans , Male , Skin/microbiology , Thorax , Tinea Versicolor/microbiologyABSTRACT
Adherence of Malassezia yeast cells to human keratinocytes was assessed by a novel technique using double-sided Sellotape. Although adherence using double-sided Sellotape is still merely a model for in vivo adherence, it approximates to the conditions found on the skin surface. There were no differences in adhesive properties to human keratinocytes between Malassezia strains originating from HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis, nor was there a relationship between the severity of seborrhoeic dermatitis and in vitro adherence to human keratinocytes.
