Cheiromyces lignicola, a new chirosporous anamorphic species from Hong Kong

Cheiromyces lignicola sp. nov. is described and illustrated from a freshwater stream in Hong Kong. The species is characterized by chiroid, yellowish brown, distoseptate conidia that are composed of 3-5 arms, each terminating apically in an inflated cell. The developmental stages of the inflated apical cell are illustrated. Cheiromyces lignicola is compared with other Cheiromyces species, and other taxa that produce chiroid conidia with inflated apical cells. The taxonomic disposition of C. cubensis and C. wrightii in Cheiromyces is also discussed. Keys to species of Cheiromyces and to 26 anamorphic genera that produce chiroid conidia are provided.published_or_final_versio

Cataractispora receptaculorum, a new freshwater ascomycete from Hong Kong

A new species of Cataractispora, C. receptaculorum, is described from freshwater habitats. This species is characterized by triseptate verruculose ascospores and polar appendages that unfurl in water. The ascospores lack polar chambers that enclose the appendages as in C. bipolaris and C. viscosa. An ultrastructural study of this species revealed that the ascus wall and apical ring of this species is typical of the Annulatascaceae, while the ascospore wall with verruculose ornamentations and the ontogeny of the ascospore polar appendages are similar to the other species of Cataractispora. Cataractispora receptaculorum is illustrated with interference light, scanning and transmission electron micrographs.published_or_final_versio

Digitodesmium recurvum, a new species of chirosporous hyphomycete from Hong Kong

Digitodesmium recurvum sp. nov., recorded from freshwater habitats in Hong Kong, is described and illustrated. Diptodesmium recuruum is characterized by chiroid, olivaceous brown, euseptate conidia composed of 4-6 apically recurved arms. Characteristics of the conidia of the two known species of Digitodesmium are summarized, and a comparison with other similar species is also provided.published_or_final_versio

Paraniesslia tuberculata gen. et sp. nov., and new records or species of Clypeosphaeria, Leptosphaeria and Astrosphaeriella in Hong Kong freshwater habitats

Paraniesslia tu berculata gen. et sp. nov., Clypeosphaeria uniseptata sp. nov. and Leptosphaeia qinimia sp. nov. are described and illustrated from wood submerged in freshwater habitats in Hong Kong, while Astrosphaw2'ella stellatn is reported as a new record from a river in Hong Kong. Paranie.sslia tuberculata has characteristic features of the Niessliaceae, but is unique in producing greenish-brown ascospores with tuberculate ornamentation.published_or_final_versio

Lyme disease - a brief review and report of a case in Hong Kong: Reply to Letters to the editor

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Lyme disease - a brief review and report of a case in Hong Kong

In a search for the spirochetes responsible for Lyme disease in Hong Kong, a sixty year old female, with a clinical diagnosis of arthritis, was found to have a rising antibody litre against Borrelia burgdorferi by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA). This paper presents a brief review of Lyme disease, its epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, prevention and treatment, followed by a report of this first case of Lyme disease in Hong Kong.published_or_final_versio

Biodiversity of fungi on submerged wood in Hong Kong streams

Woody substrates were collected in 5 freshwater streams in Hong Kong and the fungi on these substrates were investigated. A total of 153 species were identified, comprising 61 ascomycete and 92 mitosporic taxa, and 20% were previously undescribed. About 30% of the ascomycetes belonged to the genera Annulatascus (Annulatascaceae), Aniptodera, Savoryella (Halosphaeriaceae), Ophioceras, Pseudohalonectria (Magnaporthaceae) and Massarina (Lophiostomataceae). Endophragmiella, Helicosporium and Sporoschisma were common mitosporic genera. Species overlap occurred between different streams, and a few fungi were common in Hong Kong streams. Species composition in the Tung Chung River was distinct, and factors causing variations are discussed. Sampling techniques, the ecological role and distribution of fungi on submerged wood are discussed.published_or_final_versio

Longitudinal and temporal distribution of freshwater ascomycetes and dematiaceous hyphomycetes in the Lam Tsuen River, Hong Kong

Publication no. P-2001-0165-MSA.published_or_final_versio

Ascal ultrastructural study in Annulatascus hongkongensis sp. nov., a freshwater ascomycete

A new species of Annulatascus, A. hongkongenszs, is described from freshwater habitats. This species differs from other Annulatascus species as ascospores are ellipsoidal, 3-septate, verruculose and are surrounded by a thick mucilaginous sheath. Annulatascus hongkongenszs is described and illustrated with light and transmission electron micrographs, and compared with other Annulatascus species.published_or_final_versio