Malassezia /mal′əsē″zē·ə/ [Louis C. Malassez, French physiologist, 1842–1910] , a genus of fungi. Malassezia furfur, the species normally found on human skin, can cause tinea versicolor in susceptible hosts (previous name: Pityrosporum oviculare). M. ovalis is a nonpathogenic organism found in sebaceous areas. Formerly called Pityrosporum ovale.
