Scanning electron microscopy of Malassezia furfur in tinea versicolor.
10.3349/ymj.1989.30.4.334
- Author:
Kwang Hoon LEE
1
;
Young Gee KIM
;
Dongsik BANG
;
Yang Ahn KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Comparative Study
- Keywords:
Malassezia furfur;
tinea versicolor;
scanning electron microscopy
- MeSH:
Biopsy;
Comparative Study;
Human;
Malassezia/isolation and purification/*ultrastructure;
Male;
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning;
Skin Diseases, Infectious/microbiology/pathology;
Tinea Versicolor/*microbiology
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
1989;30(4):334-338
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Morphologic features of Malassezia(M.) furfur in the horny layer from clinical lesions of tinea versicolor were examined by scanning electron microscopy and compared with the appearance of fungus in the horny layer from normal skin and in culture. In skin lesions of tinea versicolor, M. furfur showed a variety of growth and reproduction patterns. Although the main patterns were budding yeast forms, various patterns suggesting yeast-mycelial conversion were observed and mycelial hyphae were more prominent in the deeper horny layer than in the superficial layers. However, in the skin of normal persons and in culture, M. furfur existed only as yeast forms and no mycelial hyphae or yeast-mycelial conversion forms were seen. This suggests that the morphologic change of M. furfur, from a yeast form to a mycelial hypha one, may play a role in the induction of the clinical lesion of tinea versicolor.
