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

Kanchankoti Kiran; Shoorashetty Manohar Rudresh; Yoganand Raksha; Shivanna Ragunatha; Gupta Jyoti; Mandya Rudramurthy Shivaprakash

doi:10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_85_24

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

Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2024 Sep 2. doi: 10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_85_24. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Kanchankoti Kiran¹, Shoorashetty Manohar Rudresh¹, Yoganand Raksha¹, Shivanna Ragunatha², Gupta Jyoti³, Mandya Rudramurthy Shivaprakash⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology, Venereology and Leprosy, ESIC MC PGIMSR and MH, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
² Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, ESIC MC PGIMSR and MH, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
³ Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
⁴ Department of Mycology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

PMID: 39221864
DOI: 10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_85_24

Abstract

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.