title: The Prevalence and Species Composition of Malassezia yeasts in Patients with Clinically Suspected Onychomycosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are limited numbers of studies which focused on the identification of Malassezia yeasts to a species level in onychomycosis. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and species composition of Malassezia yeasts in patients with clinically suspected onychomycosis and to examine if the range of species varies with patient gender, age, site of involvement and clinical pattern of onychomycosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens were taken from 785 patients presenting signs of onychomycosis and then incubated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and modified Dixon agar. The yeasts isolated were identified according to their macroscopic and microscopic features and physiological characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Malassezia species were diagnosed both by microscopy and culture in fourteen (1.8%) patients. M. globosa was the predominant, if not only, species identified from nail samples. Mixed cultures were observed in five cases: in 4 cases Malassezia was co-isolated with Candida albicans and in one case with dermatophyte. Fingernails were affected more frequently than toenails (85.7%) and distolateral subungual onychomycosis was the most common clinical type (78.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant differences were found in the distribution of Malassezia species isolated according to demographic parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenerology, University Clinical Center of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Asja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prohic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Suada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuskunovic-Vlahovljak
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenerology, University Clinical Center of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Tamara Jovovic
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sadikovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavaljuga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008290:Malassezia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Malassezia species; isolation; onychomycosis