Molecular Identification and Quantification of Species Isolated from Pityriasis Versicolor.

BACKGROUND

Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is the most common chronic superficial infection of the stratum corneum, reported in 40-60% of the tropical population. After the description of the new species, only a few studies have been conducted from India.

AIMS

Molecular identification, quantification of species implicated with PV and correlation to its clinical presentation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The subjects include 50 PV patients, who attended the dermatology outpatient department of our hospital and 50 healthy individuals. Same size area of the skin was sampled from lesional and non-lesional sites in the patient group and from forehead, cheek, and chest of healthy individuals. spp. isolated were identified by conventional method and confirmed by ITS2 PCR-RFLP and sequencing of D1/D2 region of 26S rDNA.

RESULTS

Eighty percent of patients presented with hypopigmented lesions and 20% with hyperpigmented lesions. From PV lesions, the most frequently isolated species was (50%), followed by (27.3%), mixture of and (15.9%), (4.5%), and (2.3%). Higher Malassezia density was found in lesional area as compared to non-lesional area of PV patients and in healthy individuals ( 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Although was the most prevalent species isolated from both patients and controls, significantly higher isolation of from the lesional area compared to non-lesional area indicates its possible role along with in causing PV.