Comparative Study Between Molecular and Conventional Detection Methods of Malassezia furfur Isolated from Iraqi Psoriatic Patients

Background: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, relapsing/remitting, immune-mediated skin disease characterized by red, scaly patches, papules and plaques which usually itch. Malassezia furfur is a fungus, specifically yeast that is approximately 1.5-4.5 μm wide and 2-6 μm long. Malassezia fufur is a coccal and their cells contain a plasma membrane, a thick and multilaminar cell wall composed of chitin with an invagination characteristic of Malassezia, mitochondria, a nucleus, and all of the other vital organelles. The role of Malassezia yeasts in psoriasis is still undetermined, but there are several reports indicating that these microorganisms are able to elicit psoriasis form lesions in both human and animals. Aims and objectives: The aims of the present study were to find out the prevalence of psoriasis disease, along with Malasseiz furfur and evaluation of the ITS PCR method sensitivity comparison with conventional methods. Materials and Methods: In this study vaginal swabs from 180 individuals (60 psoriatic patients and 120 Healthy volunteers) were used for lacto phenol cotton blue stain, culture, PCR and RFLP methods. PCR was performed with primer pair targeted the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of Malasseiz furfur. The result of the PCR was compared with conventional methods. The PCR positive samples were identified by presence of ~509 bp amplicon of the ITS region. Results: Conventional methods of lacto phenol cotton blue stain and culture methods showed a positive results in 16 (26.7%) out of 60 psoriasis patients and 26 (21.7%) out of 120 healthy control whereas PCR and RFLP methods showed 20 (33.3%) out of 60 psoriasis patients and 29 (24.2%) out of 120 healthy control. Conclusion: PCR method is sensitive, specific and useful technique to detect Malassezia furfur in both of psoriatic patients and healthy control.