White-Nose Syndrome: Human Activity in the Emergence of an Extirpating Mycosis

Abstract

In winter 2006, the bat population in Howe Cave, in central New York State, USA, contained a number of bats displaying an unusual white substance on their muzzles. The following year, numerous bats in four surrounding caves displayed unusual winter hibernation behavior, including day flying and entrance roosting. A number of bats were found dead and dying, and all demonstrated a white, powdery substance on their muzzles, ears, and wing membranes, which was later identified as the conidia of a previously undescribed fungal pathogen, Geomyces destructans. The growth of the conidia gave infected bats the appearance of having dunked their faces into powdered sugar. The disease was named white-nose syndrome and represents an emerging zoonotic mycosis, likely introduced through human activities, which has led to a precipitous decline in North American bat species.

Phenotypic Divergence along Geographic Gradients Reveals Potential for Rapid Adaptation of the White-Nose Syndrome Pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, in North America

“…In the laboratory, P. destructans can grow in medium containing complex carbohydrates as carbon and energy sources. Thus, polysaccharides in the hibernacula could also be a significant carbon and energy source for P. destructans, and the altered amino acid in the putative hydroxyacidoxoacid transhydrogenase may represent an adaptation in the specific strains (63).…”

A set of principles and practical suggestions for equitable fieldwork in biology

“…To mitigate the risk of spreading potentially detrimental pathogens and invasive species, teams can disinfect field equipment when moving between sites, before returning home, and/or between sampling individual organisms (89). The spread of white-nose syndrome, chytridiomycosis, and the possible transmission of viruses between wildlife and humans underscore the importance of these steps (90)(91)(92)(93). In addition, scientists can consider undergoing wellness checks and quarantining before moving between sites where infecting local populations with diseases is possible (for example, in times of global pandemics like COVID-19).…”

Phylogenomic analysis supports a recent change in nitrate assimilation in the White-nose Syndrome pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans

“…Pseudogymnoascus species are globally distributed with non-pathogenic phenotypes in multiple soil types and microenvironments (Hayes, 2012;Reynolds and Barton, 2013) including bat hibernacula (Lorch et al, 2013;Vanderwolf et al, 2013) and healthy bat fur (Johnson et al, 2013). While Pseudogymnoascus pannorum has caused non-fatal skin lesions in humans and domesticated animals (Gianni et al, 2003;Zelenkova, 2006;Erne et al, 2007;ChristenZaech et al, 2008), virulence towards bats appears to have emerged only in P. destructans (Minnis and Lindner, 2013).…”