White-nose syndrome fungus (Geomyces destructans) in bats, Europe
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Abstract
White-nose syndrome is an emerging disease in North America that has caused substantial declines in hibernating bats. A recently identified fungus (Geomyces destructans) causes skin lesions that are characteristic of this disease. Typical signs of this infection were not observed in bats in North America before white-nose syndrome was detected. However, unconfirmed reports from Europe indicated white fungal growth on hibernating bats without associated deaths. To investigate these differences, hibernating bats were sampled in Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary to determine whether G. destructans is present in Europe. Microscopic observations, fungal culture, and genetic analyses of 43 samples from 23 bats indicated that 21 bats of 5 species in 3 countries were colonized by G. destructans. We hypothesize that G. destructans is present throughout Europe and that bats in Europe may be more immunologically or behaviorally resistant to G. destructans than their congeners in North America because they potentially coevolved with the fungus.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | White-nose syndrome fungus (Geomyces destructans) in bats, Europe |
| Series title | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| DOI | 10.3201/eid1608.100002 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Year Published | 2010 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Contributing office(s) | National Wildlife Health Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| First page | 1237 |
| Last page | 1242 |
| Country | Germany, Hungary, Switzerland |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |