White-nose syndrome fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, on bats captured emerging from caves during winter in the southeastern United States

摘要: Emerging infectious diseases in wildlife are an increasing threat to global biodiversity. White-nose syndrome (WNS) bats is one of the most recently emerged North America, causing massive declines eastern bat populations. In Northeast, winter behavior during hibernation period, such as flying day or cold weather, has been attributed WNS. However, emergence southeastern United States, where winters warmer, received little attention. The goals this study were determine if results from infection by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, causative pathogen WNS, and investigate how load prevalence vary species, site, over time. We collected epidermal swab samples 871 active 10 species captured outside hibernacula Tennessee 2012–2013 2013–2014. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) P. destructans was not detected on 54% these bats, suggesting that occurs regardless fungal infection. Among infected Perimyotis subflavus (tri-colored bats) had highest mean load, whereas Myotis lucifugus (little brown all individuals captured. Less than 18% (n = 59 345 sampled) M. grisescens (gray detectible DNA their forearms muzzle. Hibernacula with large populations lower loads sites used other species; however, per did significantly differ between non-M. sites. found higher following winter, indicating increase longer a site presumably contaminated. Repeated low-dose exposure, mild temperatures, availability prey Southeast may provide regional refuge for surviving