Background: The detection of pathogenic fungus is an important step and key to assessing the sensitivity of the antifungal drugs, and therefore choosing an effective treatment method.
Aim: To identify Malassezia species from scales of a patient with pityriasis versicolor.
Methods: Three hundred patients with pityriasis versicolor who were positive with direct examination, were isolated by culture.
Results: Identification of Malassezia species by culture: the growth rate was 90.3%; the detection rate was 97.0%, including 11 species: M. globosa (42.4%), M. dermatitis (17.3%), M. furfur (14.4%). M. globosa was the most prevalent species in the 20-29 group 36.5%, in hyphae and yeast cells (42.2%).
Conclusion: M. globosa is the main cause of pityriasis versicolor in Vietnam.
Keywords: Malassezia spp; Pityriasis versicolor; Yeast.