Mycology

Malassezia furfur

Claire Nicole L. Ocampo

BSMT - 3
 Table of Contents
01 Mycology

02 Epidemiology and Pathogenesis

03 Clinical Manifestations

04 Laboratory Diagnosis

05 Prevention and Treatment

 01
Mycology
Mycology
Skin disease Pityriasis versicolor was
described as early as 1846.
Malassezia observed a diversity and
variation of certain yeasts present on
the skin for which the genus is named
Malassezia furfur
(formerly Pityrosporum orbiculare, P.
ovale, P. furfur) .
 Malassezia furfur
Malassezia furfur was the first species identified
within the genus.
The genus Malassezia is comprised of lipophilic
yeasts that reproduce by unipolar bud fission.
Malassezia furfur is a biphasic, lipophilic yeast
forming hyphae as well as round or oval
structures.
The organism requires an exogenous source of
lipids for growth due to the genus inability to
synthesize long-chain fatty acids 
02
Epidemilogy and
Pathogenesis
 Epidemiology and Pathogenesis

• Malassezia furfur is a common skin commensal. 03

• The skin of the human chest, back, and scalp are rich in fatty acids
providing M. furfur the required source of exogenous lipids.
• In a small study of M. furfur recovered from infants with catheter-
related sepsis showed that the growth of the organism was
supported when it was inoculated into 10% and 20% fat emulsions
used for hyperalimentation. However, it appears fungemia is
facilitated by skin colonization of the organism in a nutrient-rich
environment (most typically, compromised patients receiving fat
emulsion) and the portal of entry provided by central venous access
devices and in a patient with a subcutaneous port requiring repeated
needle punctures of the device as part of the therapeutic regimen.
 03
Clinical
Manifestations
 Clinical Manifestations

• Malassezia furfur is best known as the causative

agent of the superficial skin infection tinea versicolor.
• M. furfur also may cause systemic fungal infection,
usually in neonatal and adult patients with an
indwelling central venous access device who are
receiving parenteral lipid emulsion 
 Clinical Manifestations

Fungemia Cutaneous
● Fever, Chills, ● Superficial skin infection, tinea
Leukocytosis, and versicolor, to more complex
Thrombocytopenia dermatoses such as folliculitis
and non follicular pustulosis
● In neonates, apnea and
bradycardia are also ● Thin white scales over hypo-or
commonly reported. hyperpigmented skin lesions
04
Laboratory
Diagnosis
 Laboratory Diagnosis
• Malassezia spp. are nonfermentive and urease positive. The yeast
form assimilates dextrose but not other sugars. M. furfur, absolute
requirement for long-chain fatty acids grows slowly, on routine
microbiologic media and requires supplementation with a source of
fatty acids, such as sterile olive oil, lanolin or Tween 80.
• When cultures are plated and incubated at 34-37°C on a medium of
SDA or Columbia sheep blood agar supplemented with olive oil, M.
furfur grows within 2 to 4 days.
• Macroscopically, colonies have a smooth, glistening, creamy
appearance.
• Microscopically, compacted clusters of bottle-or bowling-pin
shaped budding yeasts ranging from 2-4.5 µm with a collarette at
one pole can be observed. 
 05
Prevention and
Treatment
 Prevention and Treatment

• Dandruff, is treated with zinc pyrithione, and antifungals or

corticosteroids.

• Antifungal therapy and if there are associated inflammatory skin

mechanisms.

• Oral pulse itraconazole and weekly fluconazole.

• Vaccines: There are no vaccines for this fungus.

 Thanks!

Reference:
• http://www.antimicrobe.org/new/f08.asp