Title of article :
Epidemiological characterization of pityriasis versicolor and distribution of Malassezia species among students in Hai Phong city, Vietnam
Author/Authors :
Nguyen ، Bac Duy Department of Genetics and Cytogenetics - Institute for Military Medical Research - Military Medical University , Vo ، Hien Thi Thanh Department of Medical Parasitology - Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Dinh ، Mai Dinh Thi Department of Medical Parasitology - Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Vu ، Thai Van Department of Medical Parasitology - Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Lai ، Thuy Thi Thanh Department of Medical Parasitology - Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Nguyen ، Mui Thi Department of Medical Parasitology - Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Bui ، Anh Thi Hong Department of Medical Parasitology - Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Trinh ، Khuong Van Department of Medical Parasitology - Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Cao ، Loi Ba Department of Clinical Parasitology - National Institute of Malaria Parasitology and Entomology , Trieu ، Sang Tien Department of Medical Biology and Genetics - Military Medical University , Le ، Dung Thi Kim Department of Medical Biology and Genetics - Military Medical University , Hoang ، Sa Cao Ha Noi University of Public Health , Le ، Anh Tran Department of Medical Parasitology - Military Medical University , Nguyen ، Luc Khac Department of Medical Parasitology - Military Medical University , Anh ، Anh Ngoc Department of Genetics and Cytogenetics, Department of Medical Parasitology - Institute for Military Medical Research - Military Medical University
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 reactionrestriction 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 for print
Keywords :
Hai Phong city , Malassezia , Pityriasis versicolor , Students , Vietnam
Journal title :
Current Medical Mycology
Journal title :
Current Medical Mycology
