Background:Malassezia is a lipid-dependent yeast known to cause Pityriasis versicolor, a chronic, recurrent superficial infection of skin and present as hypopigmented or hyperpigmented lesions on areas of skin. If not diagnosed and treated, it may lead to disfigurement of the areas involved and also result in deep invasive infections.Aim:The aim of the present study was to identify and speciate Malassezia in patients clinically suspected of having Pityriasis versicolor.Materials and Methods:Total 139 patients suspected of having Pityriasis versicolor were evaluated clinically and diagnosis was done by Wood's lamp examination, confirmed mycologically by using KOH, cultivation on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and modified Dixon agar at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai. The total duration of study was 12 months.Results:Majority of the patients were males (59.71%) in the age group of 21-30 years (33.81%) who were students (30.21%) by profession. The incidence of Malassezia in Pityriasis versicolor was 50.35%. The most common isolate was M. globosa (48.57%), followed by M. furfur (34.28%). Majority of the patients had hypopigmented lesions, with M. globosa as the predominant isolate. Neck was the most common site affected; 88.48% were Wood's lamp positive of which 56.91% of Malassezia isolates grew on culture. KOH mount was positive in 82.01% of which 61.40% Malassezia isolates grew on culture.Conclusions:The procedure of culture and antifungal testing is required to be performed as different species of Malassezia are involved in Pityriasis versicolor and susceptibility is different among different species. Thus, it would help to prevent recurrences and any systemic complications.

Background: Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection having wide range of prevalence in different geographical regions. It becomes imperative to know prevalent causative agent in local area to improve quality of life of patients. Present study was aimed to study epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects of onychomycosisMethods: Study was carried out prospectively at a tertiary care teaching hospital Nail scrapings of 630 clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis over a period of 5 years (January 2012 to December 2016) were subjected to KOH examination and culture.Results: Young adults in age group of 21-40 years (67.61%) were predominantly affected with male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Overall prevalence of onychomycosis of the present study is 58.41%. Yeasts were isolated in 47.86%, dermatophytes in 30.71% and non dermatophytic filamentous fungi in 21.43%Conclusions: Present study demonstrates a shift in causative agents from dermatophytes to yeasts.

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BACKGROUNDHaematological malignancies like leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma originate in the bone marrow, lymph nodes which may be acute and chronic. These patients receive immunosuppressive agents, which put them at increased risk of infections, especially due to intestinal parasites. Parasitic infections if not diagnosed early may give rise to morbidity and mortality, more so if these infections remain asymptomatic, such patients pose a threat to others in the community. Hence, early diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections is mandatory.

Blastocystis hominis has become unique and an interesting pathogenic parasite and has been reported to contribute to irritable bowel syndrome. The parasite is highly pleomorphic and its diagnostic yield increases when more than one laboratory technique is used. Blastocystis hominis responds to metronidazole and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). The prevalence of Blastocystis hominis in patients having irritable bowel syndrome is reported to be 43% in the present study. Blastocystis hominis was seen in 25%, 30%, 18.5% and 43% samples using wet mount, trichrome staining, formol ether sedimentation technique and culture in modified Jones' medium respectively. Vacuolar forms were the predominant forms. 87.34% patients did not show Blastocystis hominis in stool samples after treatment whereas 12.65% showed the presence of parasite. Hence, it becomes mandatory to examine stool specimen of patients having irritable bowel syndrome for early diagnosis and treatment of these patients will reduce morbidity.