An Analysis of theMalasseziaSpecies Distribution in the Skin of Patients with Pityriasis Versicolor in Chengdu, China

Abstract

Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a common clinical problem associated withMalasseziaspecies (Malasseziaspp.). Controversies remain regarding the specific species involved in the development of PV. This study analyzed the difference inMalasseziaspp. distribution in lesional and nonlesional skin in Chinese PV patients. A paired design was applied. Lesional and nonlesional scales from 24 cases were collected; real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect 10 differentMalasseziaspp. In lesional skin, the highest detection rates were forM. globosa(95.8%),M. restricta(91.7%), andM. sympodialis(50.0%). In nonlesional skin, the highest detection rates were forM. globosa(87.5%),M. restricta(79.2%), andM. dermatis(33.3%). A significant difference in the detection rate was only found forM. sympodialis(50.8% versus 20.8%,P=0.04). Compared with nonlesional skin, the amount ofM. globosa,M. restricta, andM. sympodialisin lesional skin was significantly higher(3.8±1.3,   2.5±1.1, and3.2±1.6times higher, resp.). The results of this study do not indicate thatM. globosaandM. restrictaare directly correlated with PV development; however,M. sympodialisis more likely related to PV development in Chinese individuals.