The Hong Kong Hospital Authority held a two-day conference starting on May 16. Dr. Calvin Chong Yeow Kuan,  Consultant Doctor at the Department of Pathology, Princess Margaret Hospital, delivered a presentation on Accurate Fungal Classification by DNA Sequencing. He discussed the application of fungal DNA sequencing in accurately identifying the sources of poisoning.
Chong explained that cases of poisoning caused by wild mushrooms include gastrointestinal discomfort due to consuming the green-spored parasol mushroom (Chlorophyllum molybdites) and liver failure caused by consuming the death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides).
Additionally, cases of poisoning from purchased mushrooms include gastrointestinal discomfort resulting from consuming mixed varieties of mushrooms called boletes. Over the past three years, the government’s Centre for Food Safety has issued five warnings to the public to refrain from consuming toxic fungi….