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. 2006 May;154(5):854-9.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.07114.x.

Distribution of Malassezia species in pityriasis versicolor and seborrhoeic dermatitis in Greece. Typing of the major pityriasis versicolor isolate M. globosa

G Gaitanis  1 , A Velegraki, E C Alexopoulos, V Chasapi, A Tsigonia, A Katsambas
Affiliations

Distribution of Malassezia species in pityriasis versicolor and seborrhoeic dermatitis in Greece. Typing of the major pityriasis versicolor isolate M. globosa

G Gaitanis et al. Br J Dermatol. 2006 May.

Abstract

Background: The expansion of the genus Malassezia has generated interest in the epidemiological investigation of the distribution of new species in a range of dermatoses, on which variable results have been reported from different geographical regions. No data are thus far available from South-east Europe (Greece).

Objectives: To study the distribution of Malassezia species in pityriasis versicolor (PV) and seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) and to investigate whether polymorphisms in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 region facilitate detection of M. globosa and M. sympodialis subtypes.

Methods: In total, 109 patients with PV and SD and positive Malassezia cultures were included in the study. Age, gender, primary/recurrent episode, disease extent and clinical form of PV were recorded. ITS 1 polymorphisms of M. globosa and M. sympodialis type and clinical strains were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis.

Results: Malassezia globosa was the prevalent species isolated from PV and SD either alone (77% and 39%, respectively) or in combination (13% and 18%, respectively) with other Malassezia species. The pigmented form of PV was strongly correlated with the female gender. PCR-SSCP differentiated five subgroups of M. globosa with one being associated with extensive clinical disease. All M. sympodialis isolates displayed a homogeneous ITS 1 PCR-SSCP profile.

Conclusions: Malassezia species isolation rates were in agreement with those reported from South-west Europe. PCR-SSCP of the ITS 1 is useful for highlighting prospective clinical implications of M. globosa subtypes.

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