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USGS · 70033043

Bat white-nose syndrome: An emerging fungal pathogen?

D.S. Blehert·A.C. Hicks·M. Behr·C.U. Meteyer·B. M. Berlowski-Zier·E.L. Buckles·J.T.H. Coleman·S.R. Darling·A. Gargas·R. Niver·J.C. Okoniewski·R.J. Rudd·W.B. Stone
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Abstract

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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90° N90° S · 180° W ← longitude → 180° E
Source-reported bounding extent: 40.396764305572056° to 45.10454630976873° latitude; -79.89257812499999° to -69.80712890625° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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D.S. Blehert, A.C. Hicks, M. Behr, C.U. Meteyer, B. M. Berlowski-Zier, E.L. Buckles, J.T.H. Coleman, S.R. Darling, A. Gargas, R. Niver, J.C. Okoniewski, R.J. Rudd, W.B. Stone. 2009. Bat white-nose syndrome: An emerging fungal pathogen?. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1163874

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