Identification of malassezia species isolated from seborrheic dermatitis patients

Abstract EN

Background: Yeasts of the genus Malassezia are known to be members of the skin micro flora of human and other warm-blooded vertebrates.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common inflammatory dermatoses that may affect infants, adolescents, and adults of all ethnicities and races, Malassezia spp.

have been found in both healthy skin and at sites affected with seborrheic dermatitis.

Aims: To identify of Malassezia spp.

are suspected to be involved in the development of seborrheic dermatitis and normal subject.

Materials and Methods: Thirty one patients with seborrheic dermatitis were included in this study, who attended Al-Kadhumyia teaching hospital / Dermatology department, from the 30th of October 2010 to the 1st of April 2011.

Twenty five (25) were males and six (6) were females, with the mean age of 36.29 ± 4.65 years (ranging between 3 months to 70 years old).

The diagnosis was established by clinical examination done by consultant Dermatologist.

Control included 48 apparently healthy individuals were randomly selected from entities, primary and secondary schools in Al-Mashtale city (25 males and 23 females) with a mean age of 15.68±15.68 years (ranging between 1-70 years old).

Both groups were investigated for Malassezia spp., cultivation and identification of Malassezia spp.

included Sabouraudَ s dextrose agar with and without olive oil.

Results: Malassezia obtusa and M.

pachydermatis had a high percentage overall Malassezia spp.

with seborrheic dermatitis patients (12.90%).

According to gender, males had higher infection rate than females.

Seborrheic dermatitis patients with age group of (31-40) years had a high percentage among others (25.80%).

Oily skinned patients revealed seborrheic dermatitis.

Conclusions: from these findings, it was suggested that M.

obtusa and M.

pachydermatis reported a high percentage overall Malassezia spp.

with seborrheic dermatitis patients.