Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Infecting Mice with Malassezia spp. to Study the Fungus-Host Interaction
06:19

Infecting Mice with Malassezia spp. to Study the Fungus-Host Interaction

Published on: November 6, 2019

Effect of circumcision on genital colonization of Malassezia spp. in a pediatric population

Serdar Iskit1, Macit Ilkit, Aygül Turç-Biçer

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cukurova, Adana, Turkey.

Medical Mycology
|March 8, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Circumcision significantly impacts yeast colonization on the glans penis and prepuce in children. Uncircumcised children showed higher yeast prevalence, particularly Malassezia species, suggesting a protective effect of circumcision.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Pediatric Dermatology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Yeast fungi are common commensals on human skin.
  • The glans penis and prepuce harbor a unique microbial environment.
  • Circumcision status may influence the penile mycobiome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of yeast fungi on the glans penis and prepuce in circumcised and uncircumcised children.
  • To identify the yeast species colonizing these areas.
  • To assess the association between circumcision and yeast colonization.

Main Methods:

  • Impression preparations from the glans penis and prepuce.
  • Culturing on modified Dixon and Leeming-Notman agar without cycloheximide.
  • Identification of yeast isolates by morphological and physiological characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Yeasts were detected in 28.6% of 112 children.
  • Colonization was significantly higher in uncircumcised (43.5%) versus circumcised (18.2%) children.
  • Malassezia globosa was the most prevalent species (40.6%), followed by Malassezia furfur (31.3%).
  • Circumcision increased yeast colonization rates by 4.8 times (P < 0.01).

Conclusions:

  • Circumcision status is a significant factor influencing yeast colonization on the glans penis and prepuce in children.
  • Uncircumcised children exhibit a higher prevalence of yeast colonization, especially by lipophilic species like Malassezia.
  • Further research may explore the specific mechanisms by which circumcision affects the penile mycobiome.

More Related Videos

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children10:42

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children

Published on: December 31, 2017

A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization10:19

A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization

Published on: November 16, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract01:28

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract

The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...