Malassezia slooffiae

Colonies on mDixon agar are typically rough with fine grooves resulting in a course texture [927].

Cornmeal preparations reveal ellipsoidal cells measuring 1.0-2.0 x 1.5-4.0 µm. Wet preparations reveal yeast cells with daughter cells being produced from a broad-based cell with distinct collarettes.

This species is regularly recovered from the scalp and face [924]. It may be differentiated from other . by its negative catalase reaction. This isolate initially associated with animals, but is also recognized from humans sources. It is easily misidentified as either M. furfur or M. sympodialis but may be differentiated from both by its inability to grow on glucose/peptone agar with 0.1% Tween 80 [924]. Although this species is recognized as genetically distinct, its role in disease is not known.

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.