Malassezia (Pityrosporum)

Introduction

A genus of fungi (subfamily Cryptococcaceae)

Pathology

• of low pathogenicity
• skin infections
  • Malassezia lack the ability to synthesize medium-chain & long-chain fatty acids & require an exogenous supply for growth (thus skin provides a site for infection)
• found in dandruff & seborrheic dermatitis
• etiologic agent of folliculitis*

*see Pityrosporum folliculitis

Laboratory

• Malassezia IgE in serum

More general terms

• Hypomycetes

More specific terms

• Malassezia furfur (Pityrosporum obiculare)
• Malassezia globosa
• Malassezia ovalis (Pityrosporum ovalis)