Malassezia restricta

Colonies on mDixon agar are dull, smooth in the center and rough at the edges [927]. The texture is hard and brittle. This species is lipid-dependent requiring olive oil for growth on routine media.

Yeast cells are spherical to oval, measuring 1.5-2.0 x 2.5-4.0µm. Wet preparations reveal yeast cells with daughter cells being produced from a narrow base [927].

This species is regularly recovered from the scalp and face [924]. It may be differentiated from other Malassezia spp. by its negative catalase reaction.

Susceptibility testing according to NCCLS/CLSI Document M27-A2 is not possible due to the oleic acid requirement of this species.

PubMed

GenBank

References

924. Gueho, E., T. Boekhout, H. R. Ashbee, J. Guillot, A. Van Belkum, and J. Faergemann. 1998. The role of Malassezia species in the ecology of human skin and as pathogens. Med Mycol. 36:220-229.

927. Gueho, E., G. Midgley, and J. Guillot. 1996. The genus Malassezia with description of four new species. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 69:337-355.