Molecular identification of Malassezia from the skin scrapings of clinically suspected cases of pityriasis versicolor

Background: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is caused by a lipophilic fungus belonging to the genus Malassezia. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount is most frequently used for screening of cases and culture is the gold standard. KOH lacks sensitivity, and culture is time-consuming and technically demanding....

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Main Authors: Kanchankoti Kiran, Shoorashetty Manohar Rudresh, Yoganand Raksha, Shivanna Ragunatha, Gupta Jyoti, Mandya Rudramurthy Shivaprakash
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-04-01
Series:Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_85_24
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author Kanchankoti Kiran
Shoorashetty Manohar Rudresh
Yoganand Raksha
Shivanna Ragunatha
Gupta Jyoti
Mandya Rudramurthy Shivaprakash
author_facet Kanchankoti Kiran
Shoorashetty Manohar Rudresh
Yoganand Raksha
Shivanna Ragunatha
Gupta Jyoti
Mandya Rudramurthy Shivaprakash
author_sort Kanchankoti Kiran
collection DOAJ
description Background: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is caused by a lipophilic fungus belonging to the genus Malassezia. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount is most frequently used for screening of cases and culture is the gold standard. KOH lacks sensitivity, and culture is time-consuming and technically demanding. Aim, Settings, and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching institution. We aimed to use multiplex-PCR for faster and accurate identification of Malassezia spp directly from skin scrapings of suspected cases of PV. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on suspected cases of PV over a period of 12 months. The clinical and demographic details were recorded. The skin scrapings were subjected to KOH mount and cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar with an olive oil overlay. Multiplex-PCR targeting 11 Malassezia spp was performed on DNA extracted from skin scrapings. Results: A total of 69 suspected cases of PV were studied. Most patients belonged to metro cities and worked in hot and humid climates. The mean duration of lesions was 18 months, and most had macular and patchy lesions. The sensitivity of KOH and culture was found to be 82.6% and 91.3%, respectively. M. globosa (n = 60, 87%) and M. restricta (n = 3, 4.3%) were isolated in culture. Multiplex PCR detected 85.5% of M. globosa, 5.8% of M. restricta, and 8.7% of mixed infection with M. globosa and M. restricta. M-PCR detected Malassezia in all the samples. Conclusions: M-PCR could identify Malassezia species directly from skin specimens, eliminating the need for culture. M-PCR was accurate, dependable, and exhibited a rapid turnaround time.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0377-4929
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spelling doaj-art-ab6f832e2b024de583543505115875792025-08-20T03:36:18ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology0377-49290974-51302025-04-0168235435910.4103/ijpm.ijpm_85_24Molecular identification of Malassezia from the skin scrapings of clinically suspected cases of pityriasis versicolorKanchankoti KiranShoorashetty Manohar RudreshYoganand RakshaShivanna RagunathaGupta JyotiMandya Rudramurthy ShivaprakashBackground: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is caused by a lipophilic fungus belonging to the genus Malassezia. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount is most frequently used for screening of cases and culture is the gold standard. KOH lacks sensitivity, and culture is time-consuming and technically demanding. Aim, Settings, and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching institution. We aimed to use multiplex-PCR for faster and accurate identification of Malassezia spp directly from skin scrapings of suspected cases of PV. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on suspected cases of PV over a period of 12 months. The clinical and demographic details were recorded. The skin scrapings were subjected to KOH mount and cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar with an olive oil overlay. Multiplex-PCR targeting 11 Malassezia spp was performed on DNA extracted from skin scrapings. Results: A total of 69 suspected cases of PV were studied. Most patients belonged to metro cities and worked in hot and humid climates. The mean duration of lesions was 18 months, and most had macular and patchy lesions. The sensitivity of KOH and culture was found to be 82.6% and 91.3%, respectively. M. globosa (n = 60, 87%) and M. restricta (n = 3, 4.3%) were isolated in culture. Multiplex PCR detected 85.5% of M. globosa, 5.8% of M. restricta, and 8.7% of mixed infection with M. globosa and M. restricta. M-PCR detected Malassezia in all the samples. Conclusions: M-PCR could identify Malassezia species directly from skin specimens, eliminating the need for culture. M-PCR was accurate, dependable, and exhibited a rapid turnaround time.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_85_24koh mountm. globosam. restrictamalasseziamultiplex pcrpityriasis versicolor
spellingShingle Kanchankoti Kiran
Shoorashetty Manohar Rudresh
Yoganand Raksha
Shivanna Ragunatha
Gupta Jyoti
Mandya Rudramurthy Shivaprakash
Molecular identification of Malassezia from the skin scrapings of clinically suspected cases of pityriasis versicolor
Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology
koh mount
m. globosa
m. restricta
malassezia
multiplex pcr
pityriasis versicolor
title Molecular identification of Malassezia from the skin scrapings of clinically suspected cases of pityriasis versicolor
title_full Molecular identification of Malassezia from the skin scrapings of clinically suspected cases of pityriasis versicolor
title_fullStr Molecular identification of Malassezia from the skin scrapings of clinically suspected cases of pityriasis versicolor
title_full_unstemmed Molecular identification of Malassezia from the skin scrapings of clinically suspected cases of pityriasis versicolor
title_short Molecular identification of Malassezia from the skin scrapings of clinically suspected cases of pityriasis versicolor
title_sort molecular identification of malassezia from the skin scrapings of clinically suspected cases of pityriasis versicolor
topic koh mount
m. globosa
m. restricta
malassezia
multiplex pcr
pityriasis versicolor
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_85_24
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