The evolution of a bat population with white-nose syndrome (WNS) reveals a shift from an epizootic to an enzootic phase
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RESEARCH
Open Access
The evolution of a bat population with white-nose syndrome (WNS) reveals a shift from an epizootic to an enzootic phase Craig L. Frank1* , April D. Davis2 and Carl Herzog3
Abstract Background: White-nose Syndrome (WNS) is a mycosis caused by a cutaneous infection with the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). It produces hibernation mortality rates of 75–98% in 4 bats: Myotis lucifugus, M. septentrionalis, M. sodalis, and Perimyotis subflavus. These high mortality rates were observed during the first several years after the arrival of P. destructans at a hibernation site. Mortality is caused by a 60% decrease in torpor bout duration, which results in a premature depletion of depot fat prior to spring. Results: Little is known about the long-term effects of Pd on torpor and mortality, thus we conducted a 9-year study on M. lucifugus at 5 of the hibernation sites where Pd first appeared in North America during the winter of 2007–08. The M. lucifugus hibernating at one of these sites one year after the arrival of Pd (2008–09) had: a) a mean torpor bout duration of 7.6 d, b) no depot fat reserves by March, and c) an apparent over-winter mortality rate of 88%. The M. lucifugus hibernating at this same site 6–9 years after the arrival of Pd, in contrast, had: a) a mean torpor bout duration of 14.7 d, b) depot fat remaining in March, and c) an apparent mortality rate of 50%. The number of M. lucifugus hibernating at 2 of these sites has consistently increased since 2010 and is now more than 3.0-fold higher than the number remaining after the winter of 2008–09. Conclusions: These findings indicate that this population of M. lucifugus has evolved mechanisms to hibernate well in the presence of Pd, thus reducing over-winter mortality. Keywords: White-nose syndrome, Myotis lucifugus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, Hibernation, Torpor, Mycosis
Background White-nose Syndrome (WNS) is an emergent mycosis caused by an extensive cutaneous infection with the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). It was first observed at a single cave in New York State during the winter of 2006–2007, and then spread to 5 more caves/ mines in New York State during the winter of 2007–08 [1]. Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has since spread to 38 U.S. States and 7 Canadian provinces, and it was introduced to North America from Europe [2]. This fungus grows on the muzzle, wings, and ears of afflicted bats during hibernation, with hyphae penetrating both the epidermis and dermis, consuming the hair follicles, sebaceous and sweat glands [3–5]. The optimal * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, The Louis Calder Center, P.O. Box 887, Armonk, NY 10504, USA Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
temperature for Pd growth is ~ 12.5 °C and it ceases above 19 °C [6]. Within 1–2 years after the arrival of Pd at a hibernation site, the number of little brown (Myotis lucifugus), northern long-eared (Myotis septentrionalis), Indiana (Myotis sodali
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