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Summary Background: The genus Malassezia (Pityrosporum), recognized as a member of microbiological flora of the skin in humans and warm-blooded animals, has been recently revised to include 10 Malassezia species. The aim of the study was the isolation, identification and analysis of Malassezia species distribution in skin of healthy volunteers and lesions of pityriasis versicolor (PV). Material and methods: Specimens were taken from 100 patients with PV and 30 healthy volunteers. Cultures were made in modified Dixon agar medium and the isolates were identified by morphological and physiological methods: macroscopy, microscopy, catalase, β-glucosidase and lipid assimilation tests. Results: Malassezia globosa was the predominant species in lesional skin of PV (65%). It was isolated alone in 47% of cases and associated in 18% with M. furfur (13%) or M. sympodialis (5%). In healthy skin M. globosa was found alone in 7.77% and associated in 15.54%, respectively, with M. furfur (4.44%), M. sympodialis (4.44%), M. restricta (3.33%) and M. slooffiae (1.11%). Conclusion: From these findings it was suggested that M. globosa presents the main species implicated in the pathogenicity of PV and M. furfur as the second agent of importance.

The lipophilic yeast of the genus Malassezia are opportunistic microorganisms of the skin microflora but they can be agents of various dermatomycoses. The aim of this study was to perform molecular identification of the commonly isolated Malassezia species from various dermatomycoses in our region. Thirty strains of Malassezia were isolated from different dermatologic affections: pityriasis versicolor (17), dandruff (5), seborrheic dermatitis (4), onyxis (2), folliculitis (1) and blepharitis (1). These species were identified by their morphological features and biochemical characterisation. The molecular identification was achieved by amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region by simple PCR. PCR technique was used for molecular characterisation of four Malassezia species: Malassezia globosa (270 bp), Malassezia furfur (230 bp), Malassezia sympodialis (190 bp) and Malassezia restricta (320 bp). We have detected the association between M. furfur and M. sympodialis in 16% and confirmed presumptive identification in 70% of the cases. The phenotypic identification based on microscopic and physiological method is difficult and time consuming. The application of a simple PCR method provides a sensitive and rapid identification system for Malassezia species, which may be applied in epidemiological surveys and routine practice.