Bat White-Nose Syndrome: An Emerging Fungal Pathogen?
2009
Blehert, David S. | Hicks, Alan C. | Behr, Melissa | Meteyer, Carol U. | Berlowski-Zier, Brenda M. | Buckles, Elizabeth L. | Coleman, Jeremy T.H. | Darling, Scott R. | Gargas, Andrea | Niver, Robyn | Okoniewski, Joseph C. | Rudd, Robert J. | Stone, Ward B.
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a condition associated with an unprecedented bat mortality event in the northeastern United States. Since the winter of 2006*2007, bat declines exceeding 75% have been observed at surveyed hibernacula. Affected bats often present with visually striking white fungal growth on their muzzles, ears, and/or wing membranes. Direct microscopy and culture analyses demonstrated that the skin of WNS-affected bats is colonized by a psychro-philic fungus that is phylogenetically related to Geomyces spp. but with a conidial morphology distinct from characterized members of this genus. This report characterizes the cutaneous fungal infection associated with WNS.
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