Pityrosporum ovale culture from the forehead of healthy children

Abstract

One hundred and thirty-eight children aged between 2 months and 15 years were investigated to determine the prevalence and quantity of the yeast Pityrosporum ovale. Samples were taken from the forehead and cultured on a medium containing cow's milk, glycerol, glycerol monostearate and Tween 60 as the lipid source. Eighty-seven per cent of all children were positive in the qualitative culture. The largest number of colonies of P. ovale was found among children aged 2-23 months and among children older than 9 years.