[Assimilation test of Malassezia furfur isolated from the environment].
The lipophilic yeasts Malassezia species are the causative agents of tinea versicolor and known also to be a member of normal skin flora. They are commonly isolated from the skin of humans and animals, but not from the environment. This is the first report of the isolation of Malassezia sp. from the environment (a hospital floor). The results of assimilation tests of lipids and karyotyping showed that these isolates were M. furfur. They assimilated not only lipids including floor wax and car wax but also some ointments (except antifungal agents) used clinically. The results suggest that we need to take care when using such ointments to treat skin diseases.
Tanaka
R
R
Research Center for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbial Toxicoses, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673.
Nishimura
K
K
Kamei
K
K
Murayama
S Y
SY
D006759:Hospital-Physician Joint Ventures; D006761:Hospitals; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008290:Malassezia / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*