Table 1: Number, species, and origin of strains examined for phospholipase production Species Malassezia strains PV AD SD Healthy Total Malassezia globosa 19 13 18 15 65 Malassezia sympodialis 11 6 5 4 26 Malassezia
furfur 2 1 1 1 5 Malassezia restricta 2 4 0 0 6 Total 34 24 24 20 102 PV: Pityriasis versicolor, AD: Atopic dermatitis, SD: Seborrheic dermatitis Table 2: Phospholipase activity of the Malassezia species of all the study group expressed as a Pz value mean after 15 and 20 days of culture Species Strain Strain Pz 15 Pz 20 grown on with days days EGGYolk positive media phospholipase Malassezia globosa 50 2 1 0.925 Malassezia sympodialis 22 10 0.94 0.85 Malassezia
furfur 4 3 0.95 0.80 Pz: Phospholipase activity.
Malassezia
furfur is considered a component of cutaneous normal flora which under certain conditions transforms into its pathogenic mycelial form and produces skin lesions of pityriasis versicolor.
furfur species were respectively the most common identified species [15] which, as it appears, is different with the findings of the current study.
Malassezia
furfur is a well-known cause of disease in humans.
Colonisation of living skin equivalents by Malassezia
furfur. MedMycol, 1998, 36, 15-19.
Growth of the dimorphic yeast Malassezia
furfur was also inhibited by Usnea-extract.
The complete reason why one person gets it and another doesn't is not clear but a particular yeast germ (Malassezia
furfur) is definitely involved.