Epidemiological characterization of pityriasis versicolor and distribution of Malassezia species among students in Hai Phong city, Vietnam

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Genetics and Cytogenetics, Institute for Military Medical Research, Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam

2 Department of Medical Parasitology, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong, Vietnam

3 Department of Clinical Parasitology, National Institute of Malaria Parasitology and Entomology, Ha Noi, Vietnam

4 Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam

5 Ha Noi University of Public Health, Ha Noi, Vietnam

6 Department of Medical Parasitology, Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a common fungal skin infection caused by Malassezia species. Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of PV is influenced by geographic factors. The aim of the current study was to find the epidemiological characteristics of PV and distribution of Malassezia species in the secondary school students living in Hai Phong city, Vietnam.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 1357 students within the age range of 10 - 16 years selected from four secondary schools in Hai Phong city. The students were screened for PV skin lesions from August 2016 to December 2017. The isolates of Malassezia from PV patients were analyzed by performing direct microscopy and culturing on modified Dixon agar plates, containing gentamicin, at 32oC for 7 days. In the next stage, the fungal strains obtained from patients with positive fungal cultures were identified using the CHROMagarTM Malassezia medium, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques, and D1/D2 rDNA genome sequencing.
Results: Pityriasis versicolor was diagnosed in 305 (22.48%) students and confirmed by clinical appearance and direct examination. A total of 293 (96.07%) samples grew on modified Dixon agar. With regard to demographic characteristics, 50.49% of the PV cases were female, and 57.38% of cases resided in urban areas. Furthermore, 88.52% of the subjects had the illness duration of more than 6 months. Hypopigmented and erythematous skin lesions were also observed in the research participants, with hypopigmentation being the most frequent condition (97.05%). Most of the Malassezia fungal strains were isolated from the back (39.56%), face (23.99%), and chest (16.51%). Malassezia furfur and M. japonica accounted for PV in 96.25% and 3.75% of the cases, respectively. Furthermore, Malassezia furfur was distributed in both rural and urban areas, while M. japonica was found only in the urban areas.
Conclusion: The findings of the present study were indicative of the high prevalence of Malassezia yeasts, mostly M. furfur, among the students in Hai Phong city, Vietnam
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Keywords

References

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Current Medical Mycology
Volume 6, Issue 2
June 2020
Pages 11-17

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History

  • Receive Date: 06 November 2019
  • Revise Date: 20 May 2020
  • Accept Date: 26 May 2020
  • First Publish Date: 01 June 2020

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