Bat white-nose syndrome: an emerging fungal pathogen?
Science, 2009/1/09;323(5911):227.
Blehert DS[1], Hicks AC, Behr M, Meteyer CU, Berlowski-Zier BM, Buckles EL, Coleman JT, Darling SR, Gargas A, Niver R, Okoniewski JC, Rudd RJ, Stone WB
Affiliations
PMID: 18974316DOI: 10.1126/science.1163874
Impact factor: 63.714
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 psychrophilic 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.
MeSH terms
Animals; Ascomycota; Chiroptera; Cold Temperature; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Dermatomycoses; Hibernation; New England; Onygenales; Phylogeny; Skin; Spores, Fungal
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