White-nose syndrome fungus (Geomyces destructans) in bats, Europe

Emerging Infectious Diseases
By: , and 

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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.

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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
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