Vascular pythiosis caused by Pythium aphanidermatum: the first case report in Asia

Background Pythium, soil-borne plant pathogens, are in the class Oomycetes. They are not true fungi, but are related to diatom and algae. There are two human pathogens including P. insidiosum and P. aphanidermatum. To date, only one case of pythiosis caused by P. aphanidermatum has been reported. We present herein the first case of P. aphanidermatum vascular pythiosis in Asia. Case presentation A 47-year-old Thai woman, living in North Thailand, with ß thalassemia/hemoglobin E presented with acute recurrent arterial insufficiency of both legs. Emergent embolectomy with clot removal was performed. The pathology of the clot exhibited noncaseous granulomatous inflammation with many fungal hyphal elements. PCR identified P. aphanidermatum with 100% identity. Final diagnosis is vascular pythiosis. Unfortunately, the patient eventually expired after treatment with itraconazole, terbinafine, azithromycin, and doxycycline. Conclusions To date, only one case of pythiosis caused by P. aphanidermatum has been reported. We present herein the first case of P. aphanidermatum vascular pythiosis in Asia.

On the taxonomic status of the genus Hypeugoa Leech with description of a new species of Miltochrista Hübner from Thailand (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini)

The genus Hypeugoa Leech, 1899 is synonymized with the nominate subgenus of the genus Stigmatophora Staudinger, 1881: Stigmatophora = Hypeugoa, syn. nov., and a new combination for the type species is established: Stigmatophora flavogrisea (Leech, 1899), comb. nov. Hypeugoa flavogrisea orientalis Daniel, 1951 is upgraded to species level and also assigned with Stigmatophora: Stigmatophora orientalis (Daniel, 1951), stat. & comb. nov. Hypeugoa radaricola Černý, 2009 is transferred to the genus Miltochrista Hübner, [1819]: Miltochrista radaricola (Černý, 2009), comb. nov. A new species similar to M. radaricola, Miltochrista eugoana sp. nov. is described from North Thailand. The original citation of the holotype label of M. radaricola is corrected. Adults together with male and female genitalia of the new and the similar species are illustrated.

Cabardites, a new genus for the “Adites” maculata (Poujade, 1886) species-group, with descriptions of five new species from northern Indochina and eastern China (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini)

The new genus Cabardites gen. n. is erected for the Adites maculata (Poujade, 1886) species-group with Asura limbata Wileman, 1911 as the type species. Four new species are described: Cabardites phifa Volynkin & Černý, sp. n. (North Thailand), C. auco Volynkin & Černý, sp. n. (North Vietnam), C. guanyin Volynkin & Černý, sp. n. (East China), C. tiendung Volynkin & Černý, sp. n. (North Vietnam) and C. varanagara Volynkin & Černý, sp. n. (North Thailand). Cabardites pica (Wileman, 1911), stat. & comb. n. is excluded from the synonymy with C. limbata stat. rev. & comb. n. and raised to the species level. Parasiccia fuscipennis Hampson, 1914 is synonymized with C. pica. Parasiccia karenkonis Matsumura, 1930 is excluded from the synonymy with C. maculata (Poujade, 1886), comb. n. and its belonging to the genus Metaemene Hampson (Erebidae, Boletobiinae) proposed by Poole (1989) is confirmed: Metaemene karenkonis (Matsumura, 1930), comb. rev. A new combination is established: Cabardites maculata (Poujade, 1886), comb. n. The lectotypes are designated for Parasiccia maculata var. formosibia Strand, 1917 and Asura limbata Wileman, 1911. Adults, male and female genitalia of all species of the genus are illustrated.

Structure of African populations of Pyricularia oryzae from rice

Rice blast, caused by the filamentous ascomycete Pyricularia oryzae, is one of the most devastating diseases of rice. Four genetic clusters were previously identified and three have a large geographic distribution. Asia is the center of diversity and the origin of most migrations to other continents and sexual reproduction persisted only in the South China–Laos–North Thailand region, which was identified as the putative center of origin of all P. oryzae populations on rice. Despite the importance of rice blast disease, little is known about the diversity and the population structure of the pathogen in Africa (including Madagascar). The present study was aimed at describing the structure of African populations of P. oryzae and identifying the relationship between African and worldwide genetic clusters. A set of 2057 strains (including 937 African and 1120 Madagascan strains) were genotyped using 12 SSR markers to assess the diversity and the population structure of P. oryzae. Four genetic clusters were identified in Africa and Madagascar. All the four clusters previously identified are present in Africa. Populations from West Africa, East Africa and Madagascar are highly differentiated. The geographic structure is consistent with limited dispersion and with some migration events between neighboring countries. The two mating types are present in Africa with a dominance of Mat1.2 but no female fertile strain was detected supporting the absence of sexual reproduction on this continent. This study showed an unsuspected high level of genetic diversity of P. oryzae in Africa and suggested several independent introductions.

Biogeography and evolution of Asian Gesneriaceae based on updated taxonomy

Based on an updated taxonomy of Gesneriaceae, the biogeography and evolution of the Asian Gesneriaceae are outlined and discussed. Most of the Asian Gesneriaceae belongs to Didymocarpoideae, except Titanotrichum was recently moved into Gesnerioideae. Most basal taxa of the Asian Gesneriaceae are found in the Indian subcontinent and Indo-China Peninsula, suggesting Didymocarpoideae might originate in these regions. Four species diversification centers were recognized, i.e. Sino-Vietnam regions, Malay Peninsula, North Borneo and Northwest Yunnan (Hengduan Mountains). The first three regions are dominated by limestone landscapes, while the Northwest Yunnan is well-known for its numerous deep gorges and high mountains. The places with at least 25% species are neoendemics (newly evolved and narrowly endemic) which were determined as evolutionary hotspots, including Hengduan Mountains, boundary areas of Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi in Southwest China, North Borneo, Pahang and Terengganu in Malay Peninsula, and mountainous areas in North Thailand, North Sulawesi Island. Finally, the underlying mechanisms for biogeographical patterns and species diversification of the Asian Gesneriaceae are discussed.

A new species of Exochomoscirtes Pic, 1916 from Malaysia (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scirtidae) with biological notes on the bamboo-inhabiting members of the genus

Seven Exochomoscirtes species inhabiting phyto- or lithotelmata in West Malaysia and North Thailand were reared from larvae. E. hashimi spec. nov. from W. Malaysia was described and E. carinensis and E. meghalayensis were new records for Thailand. Larvae of E. meghalayensis inhabited water-filled tree holes and forest rock pools, while E. hajeki, E. jaechi, E. chiangmaiensis, E. carinensis, E. cf. luteosuturaloides and E. hashimi spec. nov. occurred in water-filled bamboo stems. Bamboo-inhabiting species occupied different types of bamboo habitats such as mature bamboo stems (inhabited internodes up to 21 m high), dead bamboo stems or bamboo stumps. Internodes of nutrient-rich bamboo shoots were not colonized. Adult Exochomoscirtes entered enclosed internode cavities through holes created by insects, woodpeckers and other animals or cracks in bamboo walls. Larvae living in open phytotelmata such as water-filled tree holes or bamboo stumps created pupal chambers made of soil or detritus in the vicinity of their habitats. In species inhabiting enclosed internodes pupal chambers were absent. Larvae pupated inside the internodes firmly attached to the bamboo walls close above water surface. Total development time of bamboo-inhabiting species was about 3 months. Predators of Exochomoscirtes species dwelling in enclosed internodes were chironomid larvae (Dasyhelea), mosquito larvae (Toxorhynchites), small water striders (Lathriovelia), rove beetles (Acylophorus), jumping spiders (Paracyrba), web-building spiders (Theridiidae) and web-building larvae of fungus gnats (Truplaya). Taxonomic acts E. hashimi spec. nov.– urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4D2AA5A6-DB2D-4B5F-AE91-E8C985FFA4DD