Malassezia Species Distribution in Cases of Pityriasis Versicolor and Dandruff in a Tertiary Care Rural Hospital: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Pityriasis Versicolor (PV) a commonly encountered superficial mycosis is a mild, chronic infection of the stratum corneum. Malassezia species are lipid dependent yeast that are commonly found on human skin and associated with PV and dandruff. Aim: To study the distribution of Malassezia species in cases of PV and Dandruff. Materials and Methods: A tertiary care rural hospital based cross-sectional study was undertaken. Skin scrapings were collected and cultured on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA) overlaid with olive oil and modified Dixon agar (mDA). The isolates were identified by biochemical tests. Data was analysed using the Chi-square test. The p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of the 127 samples of PV, 38.2% were 10% KOH positive. A total of 76 yielded growth. The most common isolate was M.sympodialis (53.06%), followed by M.furfur (26.53%), M.globosa (16.33%) and M.slooffiae (4.08%). Of the 51 cases of dandruff cases, 27 samples yielded growth and the most common isolate was M.sympodialis (62.96%), followed by M.furfur (25.93%), M.globosa (11.11%). Conclusion: PV and dandruff are the common surface infections in this rural region and Malassezia sympodialis is the commonest species associated with these conditions.