Cultures and physiologic properties of the fungus producing tinea versicolor

ABSTRACT

MALASSEZIA FURFUR IS A SAPROPHYTIC, LIPOPHYTIC FUNGUS BELONGING TO THE CLASS DEUTEROMYCETES, GENUS PITYROSPURUM, SPECIES FURFUR. THIS PARASITE LIVES AND GROWS IN THE INTERMEDIATE AND DEEP STRATA OF THE CORNEUM AND NEVER INVADES THE HAIR FOLLICLES. IT PRODUCES THE CONDITION KNOWN AS PITYRIASIS VERSICOLOR, A SUPERFICIAL MYCOSIS, KNOWN VULGARLY AS "PANOS" IN OUR COUNTRY. IT OCCURS PRIMARILY IN THE FORM OF WHITISH OR HYPERPIG MENTED, ROUND, OVAL, OR IRREGULAR PATCHES COVERED WITH THIN SCALES THAT ARE EASILY DETECTED WHEN THE LESIONS ARE SCRAPED WITH A SCALPEL OR WITH THE NAILS. ACCORDING TO DR. COISCOU WEBER, THIS IS THE MOST PREVALENT SUPERFICIAL MYCOSIS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. THE BLASTOPORE PHASE OF THE FUNGUS IS SAPROPHYTIC AND IS OFTEN FOUND IN NORMAL SKIN (PITYROSPO RUM ORBICULARE)