title: Prevalence of Malassezia species in patients with pityriasis versicolor in Rosario, Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malassezia species are considered opportunistic yeasts of increasing clinical importance. These lipophilic yeasts are associated with various human diseases, especially pityriasis versicolor (PV), a chronic superficial scaling dermatomycosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to isolate, identify and analyze the distribution of the different species of Malassezia in patients with PV in Rosario city (Argentina).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 264 clinical samples were studied. Isolates were identified on the basis of microscopic observation of cells, and physiological properties, such as the presence of catalase, ability to use Tween compounds, splitting of esculin, and morphology, color and precipitate production on chromogenic agar CHROMagar-Malassezia medium (CHROMM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest prevalence of PV in this study was observed in the 25- to 45-year-old group. No differences were found in the development of PV between sexes. The most affected areas of body were the trunk and face. Malassezia sympodialis (51%) was the most commonly isolated species, followed in frequency by M. globosa (40%), Malassezia furfur (7%), Malassezia obtusa (1%) and Malassezia slooffiae (1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The success for a correct identification of these yeasts is important to improve our knowledge about their epidemiological role in PV and also to detect the appearance of strains which are resistant to the commonly used antifungal drugs.
authors.affiliation: CEREMIC (Mycology Reference Centre), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario (2000), Argentina. sramadan@fbioyf.unr.edu.ar
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramadán
authors.forename: Maximiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sortino
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bulacio
authors.forename: María Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Marozzi
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008290:Malassezia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014010:Tinea Versicolor / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult