title: Seroprevalence of Malassezia furfur in an urban population in Malaysia.
abstract: An in-house prepared M. furfur antigen was used to carry out a seroprevalence study in an urban population in Malaysia by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Of the 800 serum samples from all ages screened, 738 samples were positive for M. furfur specific IgG, giving an overall seropositive rate of 92.3%. There was no significant difference in the seropositive rates among the different gender group and races. However, there was a statistical significant difference in the seropositive rate among different age groups with a lower rate (73%) for the age group 5 years old and below, which increased rapidly to 99% for the 16 to 20 years old age group but declined slightly for the oldest age group. The degree of seropositivity, which semi-quantitatively reflect the anti-M. furfur specific IgG titre, did not show any significant difference among the gender and racial groups. On the other hand, there was a significant difference in the degree of seropositivity among the various age groups, with the 16 to 20 years old age group having the highest antibody titre and the extreme of age groups having the lower antibody titre.
authors.affiliation: International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. chuakawbing@yahoo.com.sg
authors.forename: Kaw Bing
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Shamala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Devi
authors.forename: Poh Sim
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Hooi
authors.forename: Kwai Hoe
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Kai Lit
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Phua
authors.forename: Joon Wah
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Mak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008290:Malassezia / Q000276:immunology; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G