Bat white-nose syndrome in North America

Microbe Magazine
By: , and 

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Abstract

* The newly described fungus, Geomyces destructans, causes an invasive skin infection in bats and is the likely agent of white-nose syndrome (WNS). * With immune system functions and body temperatures reduced during hibernation, bats may be unusually susceptible to a pathogenic fungus such as G. destructans. * WNS was first observed in a popular show cave near Albany, New York, leading some investigators to suspect that a visitor inadvertently introduced G. destructans at this site, triggering a wider WNS outbreak in North America. * Biologists trying to manage WNS within North American bat populations face major challenges, including the variety of susceptible host species, incredible dispersal capabilities of bats, difficulties in treating such populations, and persistence of the pathogen in their vulnerable underground habitats.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Bat white-nose syndrome in North America
Series title Microbe Magazine
DOI 10.1128/microbe.6.267.1
Volume 6
Issue 6
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher American Society for Microbiology
Publisher location Washington, D.C.
Contributing office(s) National Wildlife Health Center
Description 7 p.
First page 267
Last page 273
Other Geospatial North America
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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