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Pikula J, Brichta J, Seidlova V, Piacek V, Zukal J. Higher antibody titres against Pseudogymnoascus destructans are associated with less white-nose syndrome skin lesions in Palearctic bats. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1269526. [PMID: 38143741 PMCID: PMC10739372 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1269526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Serological tests can be used to test whether an animal has been exposed to an infectious agent, and whether its immune system has recognized and produced antibodies against it. Paired samples taken several weeks apart then document an ongoing infection and/or seroconversion. Methods In the absence of a commercial kit, we developed an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the fungus-specific antibodies for Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the agent of white-nose syndrome in bats. Results and Discussion Samples collected from European Myotis myotis (n=35) and Asian Myotis dasycneme (n=11) in their hibernacula at the end of the hibernation period displayed 100% seroprevalence of antibodies against P. destructans, demonstrating a high rate of exposure. Our results showed that the higher the titre of antibodies against P. destructans, the lower the infection intensity, suggesting that a degree of protection is provided by this arm of adaptive immunity in Palearctic bats. Moreover, P. destructans infection appears to be a seasonally self-limiting disease of Palearctic bats showing seroconversion as the WNS skin lesions heal in the early post-hibernation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
- CEITEC: Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jiri Brichta
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Veronika Seidlova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
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2
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Hooper S, Amelon S. Contact-independent exposure to Rhodococcus rhodochrous DAP96253 volatiles does not improve the survival rate of Myotis lucifugus (little brown bats) affected by White-nose Syndrome. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15782. [PMID: 37868049 PMCID: PMC10590100 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the emergence of White-nose Syndrome, a fungal disease in bats, caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, hibernating populations of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) have declined by 70-90% within P. destructans positive hibernacula. To reduce the impact of White-nose Syndrome to North American little brown bat populations we evaluated if exposure to volatile organic compounds produced by induced cells from Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP96253 could improve the overwinter survival of bats infected by P. destructans. Two simultaneous field treatment trials were conducted at natural hibernacula located in Rockcastle and Breckinridge counties, Kentucky, USA. A combined total of 120 little brown bats were randomly divided into control groups (n = 60) which were not exposed to volatile organic compounds and treatment groups (n = 60) which were exposed to volatile organic compounds produced by non-growth, fermented cell paste composed of R. rhodochrous strain DAP96253 cells. Cox proportional hazard models revealed a significant decreased survival at the Rockcastle field trial site but not the Breckinridge field site. At the Breckinridge hibernacula, overwinter survival for both treatment and control groups were 60%. At the Rockcastle hibernacula, Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated significantly increased overwinter survival of bats in the control group (43% survived) compared to the treatment group (20% survived). Although complete inhibition of P. destructans by volatile organic compounds produced by induced R. rhodochrous strain DAP96253 cells was observed in vitro studies, our results suggest that these volatile organic compounds do not inhibit P. destructans in situ and may promote P. destructans growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hooper
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Sybill Amelon
- USDA US Forest Service Northern Research Station, Columbia, MO, United States of America
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3
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Carvalho JLVR, Lima JMS, Barbier E, Bernard E, Bezerra JDP, Souza-Motta CM. Ticket to ride: fungi from bat ectoparasites in a tropical cave and the description of two new species. Braz J Microbiol 2022; 53:2077-2091. [PMID: 36264483 PMCID: PMC9679077 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-022-00841-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Bat flies are obligate ectoparasitic dipterans that are highly specialised to bats and have apomorphic characteristics, such as absent or reduced wings, and specialised legs and claws, which contribute to their survival. They are often associated with fungi and harbour a fungal diversity that is still poorly understood. Fungi were found in association with the bat flies in a cave of the Caatinga dry forest in Brazil. In total, 43% of the captured bat flies were associated with fungi. Seventy-six flies were collected. DNA sequence analyses of 39 isolates showed that the isolates belonged to 13 species within nine genera, with 38 isolates belonging to Ascomycota and one isolate to Basidiomycota, and Aspergillus was the most frequently isolated genus. Most of the genera found have also been isolated from bat bodies and other substrates/hosts in caves in different regions of the world. Based on morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses, two new species of Ascomycota were described: Allophoma brasiliensis sp. nov. and Pyrenochaetopsis cecavii sp. nov.
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Affiliation(s)
- João L V R Carvalho
- Departamento de Micologia Prof. Chaves Batista, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Joenny M S Lima
- Departamento de Micologia Prof. Chaves Batista, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Eder Barbier
- Laboratório de Ciência Aplicada à Conservação da Biodiversidade, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Enrico Bernard
- Laboratório de Ciência Aplicada à Conservação da Biodiversidade, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Jadson D P Bezerra
- Laboratório de Micologia, Departamento de Biociências e Tecnologia, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
| | - Cristina M Souza-Motta
- Departamento de Micologia Prof. Chaves Batista, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
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Fritze M, Puechmaille SJ, Fickel J, Czirják GÁ, Voigt CC. A Rapid, in-Situ Minimally-Invasive Technique to Assess Infections with Pseudogymnoascus destructans in Bats. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2021.23.1.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Fritze
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jörns Fickel
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gábor Á. Czirják
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian C. Voigt
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Landscape Genetic Connectivity and Evidence for Recombination in the North American Population of the White-Nose Syndrome Pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7030182. [PMID: 33802538 PMCID: PMC8001231 DOI: 10.3390/jof7030182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
White-Nose Syndrome is an ongoing fungal epizootic caused by epidermal infections of the fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (P. destructans), affecting hibernating bat species in North America. Emerging early in 2006 in New York State, infections of P. destructans have spread to 38 US States and seven Canadian Provinces. Since then, clonal isolates of P. destructans have accumulated genotypic and phenotypic variations in North America. Using microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphism markers, we investigated the population structure and genetic relationships among P. destructans isolates from diverse regions in North America to understand its pattern of spread, and to test hypotheses about factors that contribute to transmission. We found limited support for genetic isolation of P. destructans populations by geographic distance, and instead identified evidence for gene flow among geographic regions. Interestingly, allelic association tests revealed evidence for recombination in the North American P. destructans population. Our landscape genetic analyses revealed that the population structure of P. destructans in North America was significantly influenced by anthropogenic impacts on the landscape. Our results have important implications for understanding the mechanism(s) of P. destructans spread.
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Vanderwolf KJ, McAlpine DF. Hibernacula microclimate and declines in overwintering bats during an outbreak of white-nose syndrome near the northern range limit of infection in North America. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2273-2288. [PMID: 33717454 PMCID: PMC7920769 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
We document white-nose syndrome (WNS), a lethal disease of bats caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), and hibernacula microclimate in New Brunswick, Canada. Our study area represents a more northern region than is common for hibernacula microclimate investigations, providing insight as to how WNS may impact bats at higher latitudes. To determine the impact of the March 2011 arrival of Pd in New Brunswick and the role of hibernacula microclimate on overwintering bat mortality, we surveyed bat numbers at hibernacula twice a year from 2009 to 2015. We also collected data from iButton temperature loggers deployed at all sites and data from HOBO temperature and humidity loggers at three sites. Bat species found in New Brunswick hibernacula include Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Bat) and M. septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared Bat), with small numbers of Perimyotis subflavus (Tricolored Bat). All known hibernacula in the province were Pd-positive with WNS-positive bats by winter 2013. A 99% decrease in the overwintering bat population in New Brunswick was observed between 2011 and 2015. We did not observe P. subflavus during surveys 2013-2015 and the species appears to be extirpated from these sites. Bats did not appear to choose hibernacula based on winter temperatures, but dark zone (zone where no light penetrates) winter temperatures did not differ among our study sites. Winter dark zone temperatures were warmer and less variable than entrance or above ground temperatures. We observed visible Pd growth on hibernating bats in New Brunswick during early winter surveys (November), even though hibernacula temperatures were colder than optimum for in vitro Pd growth. This suggests that cold hibernacula temperatures encountered near the apparent northern range limit for Pd do not sufficiently slow fungal growth to prevent the onset of WNS and associated bat mortality over the winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J. Vanderwolf
- Canadian Wildlife FederationKanataONCanada
- New Brunswick MuseumSaint JohnNBCanada
- Present address:
Trent UniversityPeterboroughONCanada
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Johnson JS, Sharp NW, Monarchino MN, Lilley TM, Edelman AJ. No Sign of Infection in Free-Ranging Myotis austroriparius Hibernating in the Presence of Pseudogymnoascus destructans in Alabama. SOUTHEAST NAT 2021. [DOI: 10.1656/058.020.0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph S. Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701
| | - Nicholas W. Sharp
- Alabama Non-game Wildlife Program, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Tanner, AL 35671
| | | | - Thomas M. Lilley
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrew J. Edelman
- Department of Biology, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA 30118
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Seidlova V, Nemcova M, Pikula J, Bartonička T, Ghazaryan A, Heger T, Kokurewicz T, Orlov OL, Patra S, Piacek V, Treml F, Zukalova K, Zukal J. Urinary shedding of leptospires in palearctic bats. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 68:3089-3095. [PMID: 33527732 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic infection of worldwide occurrence. Bats, like other mammalian reservoirs, may be long-term carriers that maintain endemicity of infection and shed viable leptospires in urine. Direct and/or indirect contact with these Leptospira shedders is the main risk factor as regards public health concern. However, knowledge about bat leptospirosis in the Palearctic Region, and in Europe in particular, is poor. We collected urine from 176 specimens of 11 bat species in the Czech Republic, Poland, Republic of Armenia and the Altai Region of Russia between 2014 and 2019. We extracted DNA from the urine samples to detect Leptospira spp. shedders using PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA and LipL32 genes. Four bat species (Barbastella barbastellus n = 1, Myotis bechsteinii n = 1, Myotis myotis n = 24 and Myotis nattereri n = 1) tested positive for Leptospira spp., with detected amplicons showing 100% genetic identity with pathogenic Leptospira interrogans. The site- and species-specific prevalence range was 0%-24.1% and 0%-20%, respectively. All bats sampled in the Republic of Armenia and Russia were negative. Given the circulation of pathogenic leptospires in strictly protected Palearctic bat species and their populations, non-invasive and non-lethal sampling of urine for molecular Leptospira spp. detection is recommended as a suitable surveillance and monitoring strategy. Moreover, our results should raise awareness of this potential disease risk among health professionals, veterinarians, chiropterologists and wildlife rescue workers handling bats, as well as speleologists and persons cleaning premises following bat infestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Seidlova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Nemcova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Institute of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Tomas Heger
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomasz Kokurewicz
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Palaeontology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Oleg L Orlov
- X-BIO Institute, Tyumen State University, Tyumen, Russia.,Department of Biochemistry, Tyumen State Medical University, Tyumen, Russia
| | - Sneha Patra
- Laboratory of Ecological Plant Physiology, CzechGlobe, Global Change Research Institute Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Phytophthora Research Centre, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Treml
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Zukalova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
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Seidlova V, Zukal J, Brichta J, Anisimov N, Apoznański G, Bandouchova H, Bartonička T, Berková H, Botvinkin AD, Heger T, Dundarova H, Kokurewicz T, Linhart P, Orlov OL, Piacek V, Presetnik P, Shumkina AP, Tiunov MP, Treml F, Pikula J. Active surveillance for antibodies confirms circulation of lyssaviruses in Palearctic bats. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:482. [PMID: 33302915 PMCID: PMC7731468 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02702-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palearctic bats host a diversity of lyssaviruses, though not the classical rabies virus (RABV). As surveillance for bat rabies over the Palearctic area covering Central and Eastern Europe and Siberian regions of Russia has been irregular, we lack data on geographic and seasonal patterns of the infection. RESULTS To address this, we undertook serological testing, using non-lethally sampled blood, on 1027 bats of 25 species in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Slovenia between 2014 and 2018. The indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected rabies virus anti-glycoprotein antibodies in 33 bats, giving an overall seroprevalence of 3.2%. Bat species exceeding the seroconversion threshold included Myotis blythii, Myotis gracilis, Myotis petax, Myotis myotis, Murina hilgendorfi, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Vespertilio murinus. While Myotis species (84.8%) and adult females (48.5%) dominated in seropositive bats, juveniles of both sexes showed no difference in seroprevalence. Higher numbers tested positive when sampled during the active season (10.5%), as compared with the hibernation period (0.9%). Bat rabies seroprevalence was significantly higher in natural habitats (4.0%) compared with synanthropic roosts (1.2%). Importantly, in 2018, we recorded 73.1% seroprevalence in a cave containing a M. blythii maternity colony in the Altai Krai of Russia. CONCLUSIONS Identification of such "hotspots" of non-RABV lyssavirus circulation not only provides important information for public health protection, it can also guide research activities aimed at more in-depth bat rabies studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Seidlova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Brichta
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nikolay Anisimov
- Land Use and Biodiversity, International Complex Research Laboratory for Study of Climate Change, Tyumen State University, Volodarckogo 6, 625003, Tyumen, Russia
| | - Grzegorz Apoznański
- Institute of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Palaeontology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Berková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alexander D Botvinkin
- Irkutsk State Medical University, Krasnogo Vosstania street 1, 664003, Irkutsk, Russian Federation
| | - Tomas Heger
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Heliana Dundarova
- Department of Ecosystem Research, Environment Risk Assessment and Conservation Biology, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Tsar Osvoboditel 1, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Tomasz Kokurewicz
- Institute of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Palaeontology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Petr Linhart
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oleg L Orlov
- Land Use and Biodiversity, International Complex Research Laboratory for Study of Climate Change, Tyumen State University, Volodarckogo 6, 625003, Tyumen, Russia
- Department of Biochemistry, Ural State Medical University, Repina 3, 620014, Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Primož Presetnik
- Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora, Antoličičeva 1, SI-2204 , Miklavž na Dravskem polju, Slovenia
| | - Alexandra P Shumkina
- Western Baikal protected areas, Federal State Budgetary Institution "Zapovednoe Pribaikalye", Baikalskaya st. 291B, 664050, Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Mikhail P Tiunov
- Institute of Biology and Soil Science, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pr- t 100-letiya Vladivostoka 159, 690022, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Frantisek Treml
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
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Davy CM, Donaldson ME, Bandouchova H, Breit AM, Dorville NA, Dzal YA, Kovacova V, Kunkel EL, Martínková N, Norquay KJ, Paterson JE, Zukal J, Pikula J, Willis CK, Kyle CJ. Transcriptional host-pathogen responses of Pseudogymnoascus destructans and three species of bats with white-nose syndrome. Virulence 2020; 11:781-794. [PMID: 32552222 PMCID: PMC7549942 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1768018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how context (e.g., host species, environmental conditions) drives disease susceptibility is an essential goal of disease ecology. We hypothesized that in bat white-nose syndrome (WNS), species-specific host-pathogen interactions may partly explain varying disease outcomes among host species. We characterized bat and pathogen transcriptomes in paired samples of lesion-positive and lesion-negative wing tissue from bats infected with Pseudogymnoascus destructans in three parallel experiments. The first two experiments analyzed samples collected from the susceptible Nearctic Myotis lucifugus and the less-susceptible Nearctic Eptesicus fuscus, following experimental infection and hibernation in captivity under controlled conditions. The third experiment applied the same analyses to paired samples from infected, free-ranging Myotis myotis, a less susceptible, Palearctic species, following natural infection and hibernation (n = 8 sample pairs/species). Gene expression by P. destructans was similar among the three host species despite varying environmental conditions among the three experiments and was similar within each host species between saprophytic contexts (superficial growth on wings) and pathogenic contexts (growth in lesions on the same wings). In contrast, we observed qualitative variation in host response: M. lucifugus and M. myotis exhibited systemic responses to infection, while E. fuscus up-regulated a remarkably localized response. Our results suggest potential phylogenetic determinants of response to WNS and can inform further studies of context-dependent host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Davy
- Environmental and Life Sciences Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Canada
| | | | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ana M. Breit
- Department of Biology and Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Nicole A.S. Dorville
- Department of Biology and Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Yvonne A. Dzal
- Department of Biology and Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Veronika Kovacova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Emma L. Kunkel
- Department of Biology and Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Natália Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kaleigh J.O. Norquay
- Department of Biology and Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - James E. Paterson
- Environmental and Life Sciences Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Craig K.R. Willis
- Department of Biology and Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Christopher J. Kyle
- Environmental and Life Sciences Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
- Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensics Centre, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
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11
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Bandouchova H, Zukal J, Linhart P, Berkova H, Brichta J, Kovacova V, Kubickova A, Abdelsalam EEE, Bartonička T, Zajíčková R, Pikula J. Low seasonal variation in greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) blood parameters. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234784. [PMID: 32634149 PMCID: PMC7340307 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) is a flagship species for the protection of hibernation and summer maternity roosts in the Western Palearctic region. A range of pathogenic agents is known to put pressure on populations, including the white-nose syndrome fungus, for which the species shows the highest prevalence and infection intensity of all European bat species. Here, we perform analysis of blood parameters characteristic for the species during its natural annual life cycle in order to establish reference values. Despite sexual dimorphism and some univariate differences, the overall multivariate pattern suggests low seasonal variation with homeostatic mechanisms effectively regulating haematology and blood biochemistry ranges. Overall, the species displayed a high haematocrit and haemoglobin content and high concentration of urea, while blood glucose levels in swarming and hibernating bats ranged from hypo- to normoglycaemic. Unlike blood pH, concentrations of electrolytes were wide ranging. To conclude, baseline data for blood physiology are a useful tool for providing suitable medical care in rescue centres, for studying population health in bats adapting to environmental change, and for understanding bat responses to stressors of conservation and/or zoonotic importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Linhart
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Berkova
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Brichta
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Kovacova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aneta Kubickova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ehdaa E. E. Abdelsalam
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Renata Zajíčková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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12
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Hecht-Höger AM, Braun BC, Krause E, Meschede A, Krahe R, Voigt CC, Greenwood AD, Czirják GÁ. Plasma proteomic profiles differ between European and North American myotid bats colonized by Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1745-1755. [PMID: 32279365 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Emerging fungal diseases have become challenges for wildlife health and conservation. North American hibernating bat species are threatened by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) causing the disease called white-nose syndrome (WNS) with unprecedented mortality rates. The fungus is widespread in North America and Europe, however, disease is not manifested in European bats. Differences in epidemiology and pathology indicate an evolution of resistance or tolerance mechanisms towards Pd in European bats. We compared the proteomic profile of blood plasma in healthy and Pd-colonized European Myotis myotis and North American Myotis lucifugus in order to identify pathophysiological changes associated with Pd colonization, which might also explain the differences in bat survival. Expression analyses of plasma proteins revealed differences in healthy and Pd-colonized M. lucifugus, but not in M. myotis. We identified differentially expressed proteins for acute phase response, constitutive and adaptive immunity, oxidative stress defence, metabolism and structural proteins of exosomes and desmosomes, suggesting a systemic response against Pd in North American M. lucifugus but not European M. myotis. The differences in plasma proteomic profiles between European and North American bat species colonized by Pd suggest European bats have evolved tolerance mechanisms towards Pd infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beate C Braun
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eberhard Krause
- Leibniz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Angelika Meschede
- Institute of Zoology II, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Christian C Voigt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alex D Greenwood
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
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13
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Lilley TM, Prokkola JM, Blomberg AS, Paterson S, Johnson JS, Turner GG, Bartonička T, Bachorec E, Reeder DM, Field KA. Resistance is futile: RNA-sequencing reveals differing responses to bat fungal pathogen in Nearctic Myotis lucifugus and Palearctic Myotis myotis. Oecologia 2019; 191:295-309. [PMID: 31506746 PMCID: PMC6763535 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04499-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Resistance and tolerance allow organisms to cope with potentially life-threatening pathogens. Recently introduced pathogens initially induce resistance responses, but natural selection favors the development of tolerance, allowing for a commensal relationship to evolve. Mycosis by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, causing white-nose syndrome (WNS) in Nearctic hibernating bats, has resulted in population declines since 2006. The pathogen, which spread from Europe, has infected species of Palearctic Myotis for a longer period. We compared ecologically relevant responses to the fungal infection in the susceptible Nearctic M. lucifugus and less susceptible Palearctic M. myotis, to uncover factors contributing to survival differences in the two species. Samples were collected from euthermic bats during arousal from hibernation, a naturally occurring phenomenon, during which transcriptional responses are activated. We compared the whole-transcriptome responses in wild bats infected with P. destructans hibernating in their natural habitat. Our results show dramatically different local transcriptional responses to the pathogen between uninfected and infected samples from the two species. Whereas we found 1526 significantly upregulated or downregulated transcripts in infected M. lucifugus, only one transcript was downregulated in M. myotis. The upregulated response pathways in M. lucifugus include immune cell activation and migration, and inflammatory pathways, indicative of an unsuccessful attempt to resist the infection. In contrast, M. myotis appears to tolerate P. destructans infection by not activating a transcriptional response. These host-microbe interactions determine pathology, contributing to WNS susceptibility, or commensalism, promoting tolerance to fungal colonization during hibernation that favors survival. Graphic abstract ![]()
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00442-019-04499-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Lilley
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Jenni M Prokkola
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Steve Paterson
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Joseph S Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | | | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Erik Bachorec
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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14
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Blažek J, Zukal J, Bandouchova H, Berková H, Kovacova V, Martínková N, Pikula J, Řehák Z, Škrabánek P, Bartonička T. Numerous cold arousals and rare arousal cascades as a hibernation strategy in European Myotis bats. J Therm Biol 2019; 82:150-156. [PMID: 31128642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Hibernating bats optimise the duration of torpor bouts and arousals in relation to hibernaculum microclimatic conditions and fat reserves. Clustering has significant physiological and ecological benefits, promoting successful hibernation of individuals. Such aggregations may help maintain optimal temperatures, allowing better energy utilisation than in solitarily bats. However, aroused bats in a cluster could conceivably disturb those still hibernating, starting an energy-demanding arousal process. Our study was conducted over two winters in two different hibernacula (cave and mine) in the Czech Republic, where Greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis) have previously been diagnosed with white-nose syndrome. In 118 arousal episodes we recorded 193 individual arousals in which a warming phase was observed, 135 (69.9%) being cold arousals, where bats ceased increasing their body temperatures at ≤ 10 °C. The remaining arousals were standard normothermic arousals, where body (fur) surface temperatures reached > 20 °C. Cold arousals occurred during the mid- and late hibernation periods, suggesting they were a response to disturbance by a neighbour in the same cluster. Arousal cascades, where bats aroused in series, were rare (12.7%) and reached a maximum in mid-January. Our data suggest that Myotis bats prolong their torpor bouts using numerous cold arousals but few arousal cascades. Upon arrival of a bat, the clustered bats show tolerance to disturbing by conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ján Blažek
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zukal
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences v.v.i., Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Berková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences v.v.i., Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Kovacova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Natália Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences v.v.i., Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Řehák
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Škrabánek
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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15
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Martínková N, Pikula J, Zukal J, Kovacova V, Bandouchova H, Bartonička T, Botvinkin AD, Brichta J, Dundarova H, Kokurewicz T, Irwin NR, Linhart P, Orlov OL, Piacek V, Škrabánek P, Tiunov MP, Zahradníková A. Hibernation temperature-dependent Pseudogymnoascus destructans infection intensity in Palearctic bats. Virulence 2018; 9:1734-1750. [PMID: 36595968 PMCID: PMC10022473 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2018.1548685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that is devastating to Nearctic bat populations but tolerated by Palearctic bats. Temperature is a factor known to be important for fungal growth and bat choice of hibernation. Here we investigated the effect of temperature on the pathogenic fungal growth in the wild across the Palearctic. We modelled body surface temperature of bats with respect to fungal infection intensity and disease severity and were able to relate this to the mean annual surface temperature at the site. Bats that hibernated at lower temperatures had less fungal growth and fewer skin lesions on their wings. Contrary to expectation derived from laboratory P. destructans culture experiments, natural infection intensity peaked between 5 and 6°C and decreased at warmer hibernating temperature. We made predictive maps based on bat species distributions, temperature and infection intensity and disease severity data to determine not only where P. destructans will be found but also where the infection will be invasive to bats across the Palearctic. Together these data highlight the mechanistic model of the interplay between environmental and biological factors, which determine progression in a wildlife disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Kovacova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alexander D Botvinkin
- Epidemiology Department, Irkutsk State Medical University, Irkutsk, Russian Federation
| | - Jiri Brichta
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Heliana Dundarova
- Department of Ecosystem Research, Environmental Risk Assessment and Conservation Biology, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Tomasz Kokurewicz
- Institute of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Palaeontology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Petr Linhart
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oleg L Orlov
- International Complex Research Laboratory for Study of Climate Change, Land Use and Biodiversity, Tyumen State University, Tyumen, Russian Federation.,Department of Biochemistry, Ural State Medical University, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Škrabánek
- Department of Process Control, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic.,Institute of Automation and Computer Science, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mikhail P Tiunov
- Institute of Biology and Soil Science, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russian Federation
| | - Alexandra Zahradníková
- Department of Muscle Cell Research, Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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16
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Harazim M, Horáček I, Jakešová L, Luermann K, Moravec JC, Morgan S, Pikula J, Sosík P, Vavrušová Z, Zahradníková A, Zukal J, Martínková N. Natural selection in bats with historical exposure to white-nose syndrome. BMC ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1186/s40850-018-0035-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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17
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Kovacova V, Zukal J, Bandouchova H, Botvinkin AD, Harazim M, Martínková N, Orlov OL, Piacek V, Shumkina AP, Tiunov MP, Pikula J. White-nose syndrome detected in bats over an extensive area of Russia. BMC Vet Res 2018; 14:192. [PMID: 29914485 PMCID: PMC6007069 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1521-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Spatiotemporal distribution patterns are important infectious disease epidemiological characteristics that improve our understanding of wild animal population health. The skin infection caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans emerged as a panzootic disease in bats of the northern hemisphere. However, the infection status of bats over an extensive geographic area of the Russian Federation has remained understudied. Results We examined bats at the geographic limits of bat hibernation in the Palearctic temperate zone and found bats with white-nose syndrome (WNS) on the European slopes of the Ural Mountains through the Western Siberian Plain, Central Siberia and on to the Far East. We identified the diagnostic symptoms of WNS based on histopathology in the Northern Ural region at 11° (about 1200 km) higher latitude than the current northern limit in the Nearctic. While body surface temperature differed between regions, bats at all study sites hibernated in very cold conditions averaging 3.6 °C. Each region also differed in P. destructans fungal load and the number of UV fluorescent skin lesions indicating skin damage intensity. Myotis bombinus, M. gracilis and Murina hilgendorfi were newly confirmed with histopathological symptoms of WNS. Prevalence of UV-documented WNS ranged between 16 and 76% in species of relevant sample size. Conclusions To conclude, the bat pathogen P. destructans is widely present in Russian hibernacula but infection remains at low intensity, despite the high exposure rate. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-018-1521-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kovacova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alexander D Botvinkin
- Irkutsk State Medical University, Krasnogo Vosstania street 1, Irkutsk, Russian Federation, 664003
| | - Markéta Harazim
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Natália Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Kamenice 126/3, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oleg L Orlov
- International Complex Research Laboratory for Study of Climate Change, Land Use and Biodiversity, Tyumen State University, Volodarckogo 6, 625003, Tyumen, Russia.,Department of Biochemistry, Ural State Medical University, Repina 3, 620014, Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alexandra P Shumkina
- Western Baikal protected areas, Federal State Budgetary Institution "Zapovednoe Pribaikalye", Baikalskaya st. 291B, 664050, Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Mikhail P Tiunov
- Institute of Biology and Soil Science, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pr-t 100-letiya Vladivostoka 159, 690022, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
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18
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Bandouchova H, Bartonička T, Berkova H, Brichta J, Kokurewicz T, Kovacova V, Linhart P, Piacek V, Pikula J, Zahradníková A, Zukal J. Alterations in the health of hibernating bats under pathogen pressure. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6067. [PMID: 29666436 PMCID: PMC5904171 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24461-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In underground hibernacula temperate northern hemisphere bats are exposed to Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungal agent of white-nose syndrome. While pathological and epidemiological data suggest that Palearctic bats tolerate this infection, we lack knowledge about bat health under pathogen pressure. Here we report blood profiles, along with body mass index (BMI), infection intensity and hibernation temperature, in greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis). We sampled three European hibernacula that differ in geomorphology and microclimatic conditions. Skin lesion counts differed between contralateral wings of a bat, suggesting variable exposure to the fungus. Analysis of blood parameters suggests a threshold of ca. 300 skin lesions on both wings, combined with poor hibernation conditions, may distinguish healthy bats from those with homeostatic disruption. Physiological effects manifested as mild metabolic acidosis, decreased glucose and peripheral blood eosinophilia which were strongly locality-dependent. Hibernating bats displaying blood homeostasis disruption had 2 °C lower body surface temperatures. A shallow BMI loss slope with increasing pathogen load suggested a high degree of infection tolerance. European greater mouse-eared bats generally survive P. destructans invasion, despite some health deterioration at higher infection intensities (dependant on hibernation conditions). Conservation measures should minimise additional stressors to conserve constrained body reserves of bats during hibernation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Berkova
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Brichta
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomasz Kokurewicz
- Institute of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Palaeontology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Veronika Kovacova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Linhart
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic. .,CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Alexandra Zahradníková
- Department of Muscle Cell Research, Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
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19
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Abstract
With over 1200 species identified, bats represent almost one quarter of the world’s mammals. Bats provide crucial environmental services, such as insect control and pollination, and inhabit a wide variety of ecological niches on all continents except Antarctica. Despite their ubiquity and ecological importance, relatively little has been published on diseases of bats, while much has been written on bats’ role as reservoirs in disease transmission. This chapter will focus on diseases and pathologic processes most commonly reported in captive and free-ranging bats. Unique anatomical and histological features and common infectious and non-infectious diseases will be discussed. As recognition of both the importance and vulnerability of bats grows, particularly following population declines in North America due to the introduction of the fungal disease white-nose syndrome, efforts should be made to better understand threats to the health of this unique group of mammals.
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20
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Abstract
Globalization has facilitated the worldwide movement and introduction of pathogens, but epizoological reconstructions of these invasions are often hindered by limited sampling and insufficient genetic resolution among isolates. Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a fungal pathogen causing the epizootic of white-nose syndrome in North American bats, has exhibited few genetic polymorphisms in previous studies, presenting challenges for both epizoological tracking of the spread of this fungus and for determining its evolutionary history. We used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from whole-genome sequencing and microsatellites to construct high-resolution phylogenies of P. destructans. Shallow genetic diversity and the lack of geographic structuring among North American isolates support a recent introduction followed by expansion via clonal reproduction across the epizootic zone. Moreover, the genetic relationships of isolates within North America suggest widespread mixing and long-distance movement of the fungus. Genetic diversity among isolates of P. destructans from Europe was substantially higher than in those from North America. However, genetic distance between the North American isolates and any given European isolate was similar to the distance between the individual European isolates. In contrast, the isolates we examined from Asia were highly divergent from both European and North American isolates. Although the definitive source for introduction of the North American population has not been conclusively identified, our data support the origin of the North American invasion by P. destructans from Europe rather than Asia. This phylogenetic study of the bat white-nose syndrome agent, P. destructans, uses genomics to elucidate evolutionary relationships among populations of the fungal pathogen to understand the epizoology of this biological invasion. We analyze hypervariable and abundant genetic characters (microsatellites and genomic SNPs, respectively) to reveal previously uncharacterized diversity among populations of the pathogen from North America and Eurasia. We present new evidence supporting recent introduction of the fungus to North America from a diverse Eurasian population, with limited increase in genetic variation in North America since that introduction.
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21
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Zahradníková A, Kovacova V, Martínková N, Orlova MV, Orlov OL, Piacek V, Zukal J, Pikula J. Historic and geographic surveillance of Pseudogymnoascus destructans possible from collections of bat parasites. Transbound Emerg Dis 2017; 65:303-308. [PMID: 29181887 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Specimens archived in wet collections represent valuable material for scientific research. Here, we show that bat fly (Diptera, Nycteribiidae) samples contain DNA of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a fungus pathogenic to bats. Using dual-probe quantitative PCR, we detected P. destructans DNA on bat flies collected in the Samara, Sverdlovsk and Irkutsk regions of Russia between 2005 and 2017. Fungal load was significantly lower on bat flies from wet collections than on freshly collected mites in the Czech Republic. The bat pathogen was present in the Samara region (European part of Russia) in 2005, that is, a year before recognition of white-nose syndrome in North America. As Samara and Irkutsk regions were identified as new positive locations of P. destructans, our data expand the known geographic distribution of P. destructans. We conclude that ethanol-stored ectoparasites can be used to identify the presence of pathogens in historic bat populations and understudied geographical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zahradníková
- Department of Muscle Cell Research, Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - V Kovacova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - N Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - M V Orlova
- International Complex Research Laboratory for Study of Climate Change, Land Use and Biodiversity, Tyumen State University, Tyumen, Russia.,Laboratory of Biodiversity Monitoring, National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - O L Orlov
- International Complex Research Laboratory for Study of Climate Change, Land Use and Biodiversity, Tyumen State University, Tyumen, Russia.,Department of Biochemistry, Ural State Medical University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - V Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - J Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - J Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
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22
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Bernard RF, Willcox EV, Parise KL, Foster JT, McCracken GF. White-nose syndrome fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, on bats captured emerging from caves during winter in the southeastern United States. BMC ZOOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1186/s40850-017-0021-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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23
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Pikula J, Amelon SK, Bandouchova H, Bartonička T, Berkova H, Brichta J, Hooper S, Kokurewicz T, Kolarik M, Köllner B, Kovacova V, Linhart P, Piacek V, Turner GG, Zukal J, Martínková N. White-nose syndrome pathology grading in Nearctic and Palearctic bats. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180435. [PMID: 28767673 PMCID: PMC5540284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While white-nose syndrome (WNS) has decimated hibernating bat populations in the Nearctic, species from the Palearctic appear to cope better with the fungal skin infection causing WNS. This has encouraged multiple hypotheses on the mechanisms leading to differential survival of species exposed to the same pathogen. To facilitate intercontinental comparisons, we proposed a novel pathogenesis-based grading scheme consistent with WNS diagnosis histopathology criteria. UV light-guided collection was used to obtain single biopsies from Nearctic and Palearctic bat wing membranes non-lethally. The proposed scheme scores eleven grades associated with WNS on histopathology. Given weights reflective of grade severity, the sum of findings from an individual results in weighted cumulative WNS pathology score. The probability of finding fungal skin colonisation and single, multiple or confluent cupping erosions increased with increase in Pseudogymnoascus destructans load. Increasing fungal load mimicked progression of skin infection from epidermal surface colonisation to deep dermal invasion. Similarly, the number of UV-fluorescent lesions increased with increasing weighted cumulative WNS pathology score, demonstrating congruence between WNS-associated tissue damage and extent of UV fluorescence. In a case report, we demonstrated that UV-fluorescence disappears within two weeks of euthermy. Change in fluorescence was coupled with a reduction in weighted cumulative WNS pathology score, whereby both methods lost diagnostic utility. While weighted cumulative WNS pathology scores were greater in the Nearctic than Palearctic, values for Nearctic bats were within the range of those for Palearctic species. Accumulation of wing damage probably influences mortality in affected bats, as demonstrated by a fatal case of Myotis daubentonii with natural WNS infection and healing in Myotis myotis. The proposed semi-quantitative pathology score provided good agreement between experienced raters, showing it to be a powerful and widely applicable tool for defining WNS severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- CEITEC—Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
| | - Sybill K. Amelon
- United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Berkova
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Brichta
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sarah Hooper
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Tomasz Kokurewicz
- Institute of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Palaeontology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Miroslav Kolarik
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Bernd Köllner
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Veronika Kovacova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Linhart
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Gregory G. Turner
- Pennsylvania Game Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jan Zukal
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Natália Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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24
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Reeder SM, Palmer JM, Prokkola JM, Lilley TM, Reeder DM, Field KA. Pseudogymnoascus destructans transcriptome changes during white-nose syndrome infections. Virulence 2017; 8:1695-1707. [PMID: 28614673 PMCID: PMC5810475 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2017.1342910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
White nose syndrome (WNS) is caused by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans that can grow in the environment saprotrophically or parasitically by infecting hibernating bats. Infections are pathological in many species of North American bats, disrupting hibernation and causing mortality. To determine what fungal pathways are involved in infection of living tissue, we examined fungal gene expression using RNA-Seq. We compared P. destructans gene expression when grown in culture to that during infection of a North American bat species, Myotis lucifugus, that shows high WNS mortality. Cultured P. destructans was grown at 10 to 14 C and P. destructans growing in vivo was presumably exposed to temperatures ranging from 4 to 8 C during torpor and up to 37 C during periodic arousals. We found that when P. destructans is causing WNS, the most significant differentially expressed genes were involved in heat shock responses, cell wall remodeling, and micronutrient acquisition. These results indicate that this fungal pathogen responds to host-pathogen interactions by regulating gene expression in ways that may contribute to evasion of host responses. Alterations in fungal cell wall structures could allow P. destructans to avoid detection by host pattern recognition receptors and antibody responses. This study has also identified several fungal pathways upregulated during WNS infection that may be candidates for mitigating infection pathology. By identifying host-specific pathogen responses, these observations have important implications for host-pathogen evolutionary relationships in WNS and other fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia M Reeder
- a Department of Biology , Bucknell University , Lewisburg , PA , USA
| | - Jonathan M Palmer
- b Center for Forest Mycology Research , Northern Research Station, US Forest Service , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Jenni M Prokkola
- a Department of Biology , Bucknell University , Lewisburg , PA , USA
| | - Thomas M Lilley
- a Department of Biology , Bucknell University , Lewisburg , PA , USA
| | - DeeAnn M Reeder
- a Department of Biology , Bucknell University , Lewisburg , PA , USA
| | - Kenneth A Field
- a Department of Biology , Bucknell University , Lewisburg , PA , USA
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25
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Bartonička T, Bandouchova H, Berková H, Blažek J, Lučan R, Horáček I, Martínková N, Pikula J, Řehák Z, Zukal J. Deeply torpid bats can change position without elevation of body temperature. J Therm Biol 2016; 63:119-123. [PMID: 28010809 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Because body temperature is tightly coupled to physiological function, hibernating animals entering deep torpor are typically immobile. We analysed thermal behaviour and locomotory activity of hibernating greater mouse-eared bats Myotis myotis and found two types of movement behaviour related to body temperature, i.e. movement at high fur temperature and at low fur temperatures (Tflow; <5°C). First Tflow movements appeared at the beginning of March and often occurred during long torpor bouts. In most cases, Tflow events represented slow displacements between clusters of bats. In several cases, however, departure or arrivals from and into clusters was also recorded without any elevation in body temperature. Distance travelled, flight duration and speed of locomotion during Tflow events was lower than in high fur temperature events. Such behaviour could allow bats to save energy long-term and prolong torpor bouts. Tflow movement in torpid bats significantly changes our understanding of basic hibernation principles and we strongly recommend further studies on the subject.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.
| | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees; University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Hana Berková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ján Blažek
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Radek Lučan
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ivan Horáček
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Natália Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czechia; Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees; University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Zdeněk Řehák
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia; Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czechia
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26
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Vitamin B2 as a virulence factor in Pseudogymnoascus destructans skin infection. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33200. [PMID: 27620349 PMCID: PMC5020413 DOI: 10.1038/srep33200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic and non-pathogenic related microorganisms differ in secondary metabolite production. Here we show that riboflavin overproduction by a fungal pathogen and its hyperaccumulation in affected host tissue exacerbates a skin infection to necrosis. In white-nose syndrome (WNS) skin lesions caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, maximum riboflavin concentrations reached up to 815 μg ml−1, indicating bioaccumulation and lack of excretion. We found that high riboflavin concentrations are cytotoxic under conditions specific for hibernation, affect bats’ primary fibroblasts and induce cell detachment, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, polymerization of cortical actin, and cell necrosis. Our results explain molecular pathology of WNS, where a skin infection becomes fatal. Hyperaccumulation of vitamin B2 coupled with reduced metabolism and low tissue oxygen saturation during hibernation prevents removal of excess riboflavin in infected bats. Upon reperfusion, oxygen reacts with riboflavin resulting in dramatic pathology after arousal. While multiple molecules enable invasive infection, riboflavin-associated extensive necrosis likely contributes to pathophysiology and altered arousal pattern in infected bats. Bioaccumulation of a vitamin under natural infection represents a novel condition in a complex host-pathogen interplay.
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27
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Zukal J, Bandouchova H, Brichta J, Cmokova A, Jaron KS, Kolarik M, Kovacova V, Kubátová A, Nováková A, Orlov O, Pikula J, Presetnik P, Šuba J, Zahradníková A, Martínková N. White-nose syndrome without borders: Pseudogymnoascus destructans infection tolerated in Europe and Palearctic Asia but not in North America. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19829. [PMID: 26821755 PMCID: PMC4731777 DOI: 10.1038/srep19829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
A striking feature of white-nose syndrome, a fungal infection of hibernating bats, is the difference in infection outcome between North America and Europe. Here we show high WNS prevalence both in Europe and on the West Siberian Plain in Asia. Palearctic bat communities tolerate similar fungal loads of Pseudogymnoascus destructans infection as their Nearctic counterparts and histopathology indicates equal focal skin tissue invasiveness pathognomonic for WNS lesions. Fungal load positively correlates with disease intensity and it reaches highest values at intermediate latitudes. Prevalence and fungal load dynamics in Palearctic bats remained persistent and high between 2012 and 2014. Dominant haplotypes of five genes are widespread in North America, Europe and Asia, expanding the source region of white-nose syndrome to non-European hibernacula. Our data provides evidence for both endemicity and tolerance to this persistent virulent fungus in the Palearctic, suggesting that host-pathogen interaction equilibrium has been established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Brichta
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Adela Cmokova
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Kamil S Jaron
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Kolarik
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Kovacova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Kubátová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Nováková
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Oleg Orlov
- Ural State Pedagogical University, Kosmonavtov str. 26, 620017 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Primož Presetnik
- Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora, Antoličičeva 1, SI-2204 Miklavž na Dravskem polju, Slovenia
| | - Jurģis Šuba
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", 111 Rigas str., LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Alexandra Zahradníková
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vlárska 5, 83334 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Natália Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biostatistics and Analysis, Masaryk University, Kamenice 3, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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28
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Lučan RK, Bandouchova H, Bartonička T, Pikula J, Zahradníková A, Zukal J, Martínková N. Ectoparasites may serve as vectors for the white-nose syndrome fungus. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:16. [PMID: 26762515 PMCID: PMC4712589 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1302-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Vertebrate ectoparasites frequently play a role in transmission of infectious agents. Pseudogymnoascus destructans is a psychrophilic fungus known to cause white-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging infectious disease of bats. It is transmitted with direct contact between bats or with contaminated environment. The aim of this study was to examine wing mites from the family Spinturnicidae parasitizing hibernating bats for the presence of P. destructans propagules as another possible transmission route. Methods Wing mites collected from 33 bats at four hibernation sites in the Czech Republic were inspected for the presence and load of pathogen's DNA using quantitative PCR. Simultaneously, wing damage of inspected bats caused by WNS was quantified using ultraviolet light (UV) transillumination and the relationship between fungal load on wing mites and intensity of infection was subjected to correlation analysis. Results All samples of wing mites were positive for the presence of DNA of P. destructans, indicating a high probability of their role in the transmission of the pathogen's propagules between bats. Conclusions Mechanical transport of adhesive P. destructans spores and mycelium fragments on the body of spinturnicid mites is highly feasible. The specialised lifestyle of mites, i.e., living on bat wing membranes, the sites most typically affected by fungal growth, enables pathogen transport. Moreover, P. destructans metabolic traits suggest an ability to grow and sporulate on a range of organic substrates, including insects, which supports the possibility of growth on bat ectoparasites, at least in periods when bats roost in cold environments and enter torpor. In addition to transport of fungal propagules, mites may facilitate entry of fungal hyphae into the epidermis through injuries caused by biting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radek K Lučan
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, CZ-12844, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Alexandra Zahradníková
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Jan Zukal
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Natália Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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29
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Affiliation(s)
- G Wibbelt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse17, 10315 Berlin, Germany e-mail:
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Zhang T, Chaturvedi V, Chaturvedi S. Novel Trichoderma polysporum Strain for the Biocontrol of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the Fungal Etiologic Agent of Bat White Nose Syndrome. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141316. [PMID: 26509269 PMCID: PMC4624962 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging disease of hibernating bats, has rapidly spread across eastern North America killing millions of bats. Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the sole etiologic agent of WNS, is widespread and persistent in bat hibernacula. Control of Pd in the affected sites is urgently needed to break the transmission cycle while minimizing any adverse impact on the native organisms. We isolated a novel strain of Trichoderma polysporum (Tp) from one of the caves at the epicenter of WNS zoonotic. Detailed experimental studies revealed: (1) Tp WPM 39143 was highly adapted to grow at temperatures simulating the cave environment (6°C-15°C), (2) Tp WPM 39143 restricted Pd colony growth in dual culture challenges, (3) Tp WPM 39143 caused four logs reduction of Pd colony forming units and genome copies in autoclaved soil samples from one of the WNS affected caves, (4) Tp WPM 39143 extract showed specific fungicidal activity against Pd in disk diffusion assay, but not against closely related fungus P. pannorum (Pp), (5) Tp WPM 39143 extract retained inhibitory activity after exposure to high temperatures, light and proteinase K, and (6) Inhibitory metabolites in Tp WPM 39143 extract comprised of water-soluble, high polarity compounds. These results suggest that Tp WPM 39143 is a promising candidate for further evaluation as a biocontrol agent of Pd in WNS affected sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- Mycology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
| | - Vishnu Chaturvedi
- Mycology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, New York, United States of America
| | - Sudha Chaturvedi
- Mycology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, New York, United States of America
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31
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Field KA, Johnson JS, Lilley TM, Reeder SM, Rogers EJ, Behr MJ, Reeder DM. The White-Nose Syndrome Transcriptome: Activation of Anti-fungal Host Responses in Wing Tissue of Hibernating Little Brown Myotis. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005168. [PMID: 26426272 PMCID: PMC4591128 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS) in North American bats is caused by an invasive cutaneous infection by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). We compared transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression using RNA-Seq on wing skin tissue from hibernating little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) with WNS to bats without Pd exposure. We found that WNS caused significant changes in gene expression in hibernating bats including pathways involved in inflammation, wound healing, and metabolism. Local acute inflammatory responses were initiated by fungal invasion. Gene expression was increased for inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (IL) IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17C, IL-20, IL-23A, IL-24, and G-CSF and chemokines, such as Ccl2 and Ccl20. This pattern of gene expression changes demonstrates that WNS is accompanied by an innate anti-fungal host response similar to that caused by cutaneous Candida albicans infections. However, despite the apparent production of appropriate chemokines, immune cells such as neutrophils and T cells do not appear to be recruited. We observed upregulation of acute inflammatory genes, including prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (cyclooxygenase-2), that generate eicosanoids and other nociception mediators. We also observed differences in Pd gene expression that suggest host-pathogen interactions that might determine WNS progression. We identified several classes of potential virulence factors that are expressed in Pd during WNS, including secreted proteases that may mediate tissue invasion. These results demonstrate that hibernation does not prevent a local inflammatory response to Pd infection but that recruitment of leukocytes to the site of infection does not occur. The putative virulence factors may provide novel targets for treatment or prevention of WNS. These observations support a dual role for inflammation during WNS; inflammatory responses provide protection but excessive inflammation may contribute to mortality, either by affecting torpor behavior or causing damage upon emergence in the spring. White-nose syndrome is the most devastating epizootic wildlife disease of mammals in history, having killed millions of hibernating bats in North America since 2007. We have used next-generation RNA sequencing to provide a survey of the gene expression changes that accompany this disease in the skin of bats infected with the causative fungus. We identified possible new mechanisms that may either provide protection or contribute to mortality, including inflammatory immune responses. Contrary to expectations that hibernation represents a period of dormancy, we found that gene expression pathways were responsive to the environment. We also examined which genes were expressed in the pathogen and identified several classes of genes that could contribute to the virulence of this disease. Gene expression changes in the host were associated with local inflammation despite the fact that the bats were hibernating. However, we found that hibernating bats with white-nose syndrome lack some of the responses known to defend other mammals from fungal infection. We propose that bats could be protected from white-nose syndrome if these responses could be established prior to hibernation or if treatments could block the virulence factors expressed by the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A. Field
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Joseph S. Johnson
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Thomas M. Lilley
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sophia M. Reeder
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth J. Rogers
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Melissa J. Behr
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - DeeAnn M. Reeder
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Effect of Trans, Trans-Farnesol on Pseudogymnoascus destructans and Several Closely Related Species. Mycopathologia 2015; 180:325-32. [PMID: 26162644 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-015-9921-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Bat white-nose syndrome, caused by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has dramatically reduced the populations of many hibernating North American bat species. The search for effective biological control agents targeting P. destructans is of great importance. We report that the sesquiterpene trans, trans-farnesol, which is also a Candida albicans quorum sensing compound, prevented in vitro conidial germination for at least 14 days and inhibited growth of preexisting hyphae of five P. destructans isolates in filtered potato dextrose broth at 10 °C. Depending on the inoculation concentrations, both spore and hyphal inhibition occurred upon exposure to concentrations as low as 15-20 µM trans, trans-farnesol. In contrast, most North American Pseudogymnoascus isolates were more tolerant to the exposure of trans, trans-farnesol. Our results suggest that some Candida isolates may have the potential to inhibit the growth of P. destructans and that the sesquiterpene trans, trans-farnesol has the potential to be utilized as a biological control agent.
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Řezanka T, Viden I, Nováková A, Bandouchová H, Sigler K. Wax Ester Analysis of Bats Suffering from White Nose Syndrome in Europe. Lipids 2015; 50:633-45. [PMID: 25975369 DOI: 10.1007/s11745-015-4027-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The composition of wax esters (WE) in the fur of adult greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis), either healthy or suffering from white nose syndrome (WNS) caused by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, was investigated by high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis in the positive ion mode. Profiling of lipid classes showed that WE are the most abundant lipid class, followed by cholesterol esters, and other lipid classes, e.g., triacylglycerols and phospholipids. WE abundance in non-polar lipids was gender-related, being higher in males than in females; in individuals suffering from WNS, both male and female, it was higher than in healthy counterparts. WE were dominated by species containing 18:1 fatty acids. Fatty alcohols were fully saturated, dominated by species containing 24, 25, or 26 carbon atoms. Two WE species, 18:1/18:0 and 18:1/20:0, were more abundant in healthy bats than in infected ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Řezanka
- Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic,
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