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Whiting-Fawcett F, Blomberg AS, Troitsky T, Meierhofer MB, Field KA, Puechmaille SJ, Lilley TM. A Palearctic view of a bat fungal disease. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024:e14265. [PMID: 38616727 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The fungal infection causing white-nose disease in hibernating bats in North America has resulted in dramatic population declines of affected species, since the introduction of the causative agent Pseudogymnoascus destructans. The fungus is native to the Palearctic, where it also infects several bat species, yet rarely causes severe pathology or the death of the host. Pseudogymnoascus destructans infects bats during hibernation by invading and digesting the skin tissue, resulting in the disruption of torpor patterns and consequent emaciation. Relations among pathogen, host, and environment are complex, and individuals, populations, and species respond to the fungal pathogen in different ways. For example, the Nearctic Myotis lucifugus responds to infection by mounting a robust immune response, leading to immunopathology often contributing to mortality. In contrast, the Palearctic M. myotis shows no significant immunological response to infection. This lack of a strong response, resulting from the long coevolution between the hosts and the pathogen in the pathogen's native range, likely contributes to survival in tolerant species. After more than 15 years since the initial introduction of the fungus to North America, some of the affected populations are showing signs of recovery, suggesting that the fungus, hosts, or both are undergoing processes that may eventually lead to coexistence. The suggested or implemented management methods of the disease in North America have encompassed, for example, the use of probiotics and fungicides, vaccinations, and modifying the environmental conditions of the hibernation sites to limit the growth of the pathogen, intensity of infection, or the hosts' responses to it. Based on current knowledge from Eurasia, policy makers and conservation managers should refrain from disrupting the ongoing evolutionary processes and adopt a holistic approach to managing the epizootic.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Whiting-Fawcett
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A S Blomberg
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - T Troitsky
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M B Meierhofer
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - K A Field
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - S J Puechmaille
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution Montpellier (ISEM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - T M Lilley
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Sánchez CA, Phelps KL, Frank HK, Geldenhuys M, Griffiths ME, Jones DN, Kettenburg G, Lunn TJ, Moreno KR, Mortlock M, Vicente-Santos A, Víquez-R LR, Kading RC, Markotter W, Reeder DM, Olival KJ. Advances in understanding bat infection dynamics across biological scales. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232823. [PMID: 38444339 PMCID: PMC10915549 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2823] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, research on bat-associated microbes such as viruses, bacteria and fungi has dramatically increased. Here, we synthesize themes from a conference symposium focused on advances in the research of bats and their microbes, including physiological, immunological, ecological and epidemiological research that has improved our understanding of bat infection dynamics at multiple biological scales. We first present metrics for measuring individual bat responses to infection and challenges associated with using these metrics. We next discuss infection dynamics within bat populations of the same species, before introducing complexities that arise in multi-species communities of bats, humans and/or livestock. Finally, we outline critical gaps and opportunities for future interdisciplinary work on topics involving bats and their microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hannah K. Frank
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Marike Geldenhuys
- Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Devin N. Jones
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | | | - Tamika J. Lunn
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Kelsey R. Moreno
- Department of Psychology, Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL 60655, USA
| | - Marinda Mortlock
- Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Luis R. Víquez-R
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA
| | - Rebekah C. Kading
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Center for Vector-borne and Infectious Diseases, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Wanda Markotter
- Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - DeeAnn M. Reeder
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA
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3
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Muise KA, Dzal YA, Fletcher QE, Willis CKR. Hibernating female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) adjust huddling and drinking behaviour, but not arousal frequency, in response to low humidity. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246699. [PMID: 38353043 PMCID: PMC10949064 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246699] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Many mammals hibernate during winter, reducing energy expenditure via bouts of torpor. The majority of a hibernator's energy reserves are used to fuel brief, but costly, arousals from torpor. Although arousals likely serve multiple functions, an important one is to restore water stores depleted during torpor. Many hibernating bat species require high humidity, presumably to reduce torpid water loss, but big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) appear tolerant of a wide humidity range. We tested the hypothesis that hibernating female E. fuscus use behavioural flexibility during torpor and arousals to maintain water balance and reduce energy expenditure. We predicted: (1) E. fuscus hibernating in dry conditions would exhibit more compact huddles during torpor and drink more frequently than bats in high humidity conditions; and (2) the frequency and duration of torpor bouts and arousals, and thus total loss of body mass would not differ between bats in the two environments. We housed hibernating E. fuscus in temperature- and humidity-controlled incubators at 50% or 98% relative humidity (8°C, 110 days). Bats in the dry environment maintained a more compact huddle during torpor and drank more frequently during arousals. Bats in the two environments had a similar number of arousals, but arousal duration was shorter in the dry environment. However, total loss of body mass over hibernation did not differ between treatments, indicating that the two groups used similar amounts of energy. Our results suggest that behavioural flexibility allows hibernating E. fuscus to maintain water balance and reduce energy costs across a wide range of hibernation humidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina A. Muise
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MN, CanadaR3B 2E9
| | - Yvonne A. Dzal
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MN, CanadaR3B 2E9
| | - Quinn E. Fletcher
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MN, CanadaR3B 2E9
| | - Craig K. R. Willis
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MN, CanadaR3B 2E9
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4
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Boyles JG, Brack V, Marshall KE, Brack D. Shifts in population density centers of a hibernating mammal driven by conflicting effects of climate change and disease. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17035. [PMID: 37987538 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Populations wax and wane over time in response to an organism's interactions with abiotic and biotic forces. Numerous studies demonstrate that fluctuations in local populations can lead to shifts in relative population densities across the geographic range of a species over time. Fewer studies attempt to disentangle the causes of such shifts. Over four decades (1983-2022), we monitored populations of hibernating Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) in two areas separated by ~110 km. The number of bats hibernating in the northern area increased from 1983 to 2011, while populations in the southern area remained relatively constant. We used simulation models and long-term weather data to demonstrate the duration of time bats must rely on stored fat during hibernation has decreased in both areas over that period, but at a faster rate in the northern area. Likewise, increasing autumn and spring temperatures shortened the periods of sporadic prey (flying insect) availability at the beginning and end of hibernation. Climate change thus increased the viability of northern hibernacula for an increasing number of bats by decreasing energetic costs of hibernation. Then in 2011, white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease of hibernating bats that increases energetic costs of hibernation, was detected in the area. From 2011 to 2022, the population rapidly decreased in the northern area and increased in the southern area, completely reversing the northerly shift in population densities associated with climate change. Energy balance during hibernation is the singular link explaining the northerly shift under a changing climate and the southerly shift in response to a novel disease. Continued population persistence suggests that bats may mitigate many impacts of WNS by hibernating farther south, where insects are available longer each year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin G Boyles
- School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
| | - Virgil Brack
- Environmental Solutions & Innovations, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Katie E Marshall
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Darwin Brack
- Environmental Solutions & Innovations, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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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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Li A, Leng H, Li Z, Jin L, Sun K, Feng J. Temporal dynamics of the bat wing transcriptome: Insight into gene-expression changes that enable protection against pathogen. Virulence 2023; 14:2156185. [PMID: 36599840 PMCID: PMC9815227 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2156185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin acts as a mechanical barrier between the body and its surrounding environment and plays an important role in resistance to pathogens. However, we still know little regarding skin responses to physiological changes, particularly with regard to responses against potential pathogens. We herein executed RNA-seq on the wing of the Rhinolophus ferrumequinum to assess gene-expression variations at four physiological stages: pre-hibernation, hibernation (early-hibernation and late-hibernation), and post-hibernation, as well as the gene-expression patterns of infected and uninfected bats with the Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). Our results showed that a greater number of differentially expressed genes between the more disparate physiological stages. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the down-regulated response pathways in hibernating bats included phosphorus metabolism and immune response, indicating metabolic suppression and decreased whole immune function. We also found up-regulated genes in post-hibernating bats that included C-type lectin receptor signalling, Toll-like receptor signalling pathway, and cell adhesion, suggesting that the immune response and skin integrity of the wing were improved after bats emerged from their hibernation and that this facilitated clearing Pd from the integument. Additionally, we found that the genes involved in cytokine or chemokine activity were up-regulated in late-hibernation compared to early-hibernation and that FOSB regulation of immune cell activation was differentially expressed in bats infected with Pd during late-hibernation, implying that the host's innate immune function was enhanced during late-hibernation so as to resist pathogenic infection. Our findings highlight the concept that maintenance of intrinsic immunity provides protection against pathogenic infections in highly resistant bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoqiang Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China,School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haixia Leng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhongle Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China,College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Longru Jin
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Keping Sun
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China,CONTACT Keping Sun
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China,College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China,Jiang Feng
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7
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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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8
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Kearns PJ, Winter AS, Woodhams DC, Northup DE. The Mycobiome of Bats in the American Southwest Is Structured by Geography, Bat Species, and Behavior. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:1565-1574. [PMID: 37126126 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02230-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Bats are widespread mammals that play key roles in ecosystems as pollinators and insectivores. However, there is a paucity of information about bat-associated microbes, in particular their fungal communities, despite the important role microbes play in host health and overall host function. The emerging fungal disease, white-nose syndrome, presents a potential challenge to the bat microbiome and understanding healthy bat-associated taxa will provide valuable information about potential microbiome-pathogen interactions. To address this knowledge gap, we collected 174 bat fur/skin swabs from 14 species of bats captured in five locations in New Mexico and Arizona and used high-throughput sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed (ITS) region to characterize bat-associated fungal communities. Our results revealed a highly heterogeneous bat mycobiome that was structured by geography and bat species. Furthermore, our data suggest that bat-associated fungal communities are affected by bat foraging, indicating the bat skin microbiota is dynamic on short time scales. Finally, despite the strong effects of site and species, we found widespread and abundant taxa from several taxonomic groups including the genera Alternaria and Metschnikowia that have the potential to be inhibitory towards fungal and bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Kearns
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA.
| | - Ara S Winter
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Douglas C Woodhams
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Diana E Northup
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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9
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Kailing MJ, Hoyt JR, White JP, Kaarakka HM, Redell JA, Leon AE, Rocke TE, DePue JE, Scullon WH, Parise KL, Foster JT, Kilpatrick AM, Langwig KE. Sex-biased infections scale to population impacts for an emerging wildlife disease. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230040. [PMID: 36946110 PMCID: PMC10031401 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Demographic factors are fundamental in shaping infectious disease dynamics. Aspects of populations that create structure, like age and sex, can affect patterns of transmission, infection intensity and population outcomes. However, studies rarely link these processes from individual to population-scale effects. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying demographic differences in disease are frequently unclear. Here, we explore sex-biased infections for a multi-host fungal disease of bats, white-nose syndrome, and link disease-associated mortality between sexes, the distortion of sex ratios and the potential mechanisms underlying sex differences in infection. We collected data on host traits, infection intensity and survival of five bat species at 42 sites across seven years. We found females were more infected than males for all five species. Females also had lower apparent survival over winter and accounted for a smaller proportion of populations over time. Notably, female-biased infections were evident by early hibernation and likely driven by sex-based differences in autumn mating behaviour. Male bats were more active during autumn which likely reduced replication of the cool-growing fungus. Higher disease impacts in female bats may have cascading effects on bat populations beyond the hibernation season by limiting recruitment and increasing the risk of Allee effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macy J Kailing
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Joseph R Hoyt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - J Paul White
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI 53707, USA
| | | | | | - Ariel E Leon
- US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI 53711, USA
| | - Tonie E Rocke
- US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI 53711, USA
| | - John E DePue
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Baraga, MI 49908, USA
| | | | - Katy L Parise
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - A Marm Kilpatrick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Kate E Langwig
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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10
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Langwig KE, Kilpatrick AM, Kailing MJ, Laggan NA, White JP, Kaarakka HM, Redell JA, DePue JE, Parise KL, Foster JT, Hoyt JR. Shifting effects of host physiological condition following pathogen establishment. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220574. [PMID: 36855852 PMCID: PMC9975657 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding host persistence with emerging pathogens is essential for conserving populations. Hosts may initially survive pathogen invasions through pre-adaptive mechanisms. However, whether pre-adaptive traits are directionally selected to increase in frequency depends on the heritability and environmental dependence of the trait and the costs of trait maintenance. Body condition is likely an important pre-adaptive mechanism aiding in host survival, although can be seasonally variable in wildlife hosts. We used data collected over 7 years on bat body mass, infection and survival to determine the role of host body condition during the invasion and establishment of the emerging disease, white-nose syndrome. We found that when the pathogen first invaded, bats with higher body mass were more likely to survive, but this effect dissipated following the initial epizootic. We also found that heavier bats lost more weight overwinter, but fat loss depended on infection severity. Lastly, we found mixed support that bat mass increased in the population after pathogen arrival; high annual plasticity in individual bat masses may have reduced the potential for directional selection. Overall, our results suggest that some factors that contribute to host survival during pathogen invasion may diminish over time and are potentially replaced by other host adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate E Langwig
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - A Marm Kilpatrick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Macy J Kailing
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Nichole A Laggan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - J Paul White
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI 53707, USA
| | | | | | - John E DePue
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Baraga, MI 49908, USA
| | - Katy L Parise
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Joseph R Hoyt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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11
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Role of Brazilian bats in the epidemiological cycle of potentially zoonotic pathogens. Microb Pathog 2023; 177:106032. [PMID: 36804526 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Bats (Chiroptera) are flying mammals of great biodiversity and habits. These characteristics contribute for them being natural reservoirs and part of the epidemiological cycle of several potentially zoonotic pathogens, such as viruses, protozoa, fungi and bacteria. Brazil hosts approximately 15% of the world's bat diversity, with 181 distinct species, 68 genera and 9 families. About 60% of infectious diseases in humans are of zoonotic origin and, in the last decades, the detection of zoonotic pathogens in bats and their environment has been reported, such as Rabies virus (RABV) and Histoplasma capsulatum. Thus, the aim of this work was to review the reports of zoonotic pathogens associated with bats in Brazil in the past ten years. We reviewed the main pathogenic microorganisms described and the species of bats most frequently involved in the epidemiological cycles of these zoonotic agents. The obtained data show an upward trend in the detection of zoonotic pathogens in Brazilian bats, such as RABV, Bartonella sp., Histoplasma capsulatum and Leishmania spp., with emphasis on the bat species Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Desmodus rotundus and Molossus molossus. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring bat-associated microrganisms to early identify pathogens that may threaten bat populations, including potentially zoonotic microrganisms, emphasizing the importance of the One Health approach to prevent and mitigate the risks of the emergence of zoonotic diseases.
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12
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Characterization of Pseudogymnoascus destructans conidial adherence to extracellular matrix: Association with fungal secreted proteases and identification of candidate extracellular matrix binding proteins. Microb Pathog 2023; 174:105895. [PMID: 36423748 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Pseudogymnoascus destructans is the etiological agent of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal skin infection of hibernating bats. Pathophysiology of the disease involves disruption of bat metabolism and hibernation patterns, which subsequently causes premature emergence and mortality. However, information on the mechanism(s) and virulence factors of P. destructans infection is minimally known. Typically, fungal adherence to host cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) is the critical first step of the infection. It allows pathogenic fungi to establish colonization and provides an entry for invasion in host tissues. In this study, we characterized P. destructans conidial adherence to laminin and fibronectin. We found that P. destructans conidia adhered to laminin and fibronectin in a dose-dependent, time-dependent and saturable manner. We also observed changes in the gene expression of secreted proteases, in response to ECM exposure. However, the interaction between fungal conidia and ECM was not specific, nor was it facilitated by enzymatic activity of secreted proteases. We therefore further investigated other P. destructans proteins that recognized ECM and found glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and elongation factor 1-alpha among the candidate proteins. Our results demonstrate that P. destructans may use conidial surface proteins to recognize laminin and fibronectin and facilitate conidial adhesion to ECM. In addition, other non-specific interactions may contribute to the conidial adherence to ECM. However, the ECM binding protein candidates identified in this study highlight additional potential fungal virulence factors worth investigating in the P. destructans mechanism of infection in future studies.
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Gabriel KT, McDonald AG, Lutsch KE, Pattavina PE, Morris KM, Ferrall EA, Crow SA, Cornelison CT. Development of a multi-year white-nose syndrome mitigation strategy using antifungal volatile organic compounds. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278603. [PMID: 36454924 PMCID: PMC9714803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudogymnoascus destructans is a fungal pathogen responsible for a deadly disease among North American bats known as white-nose syndrome (WNS). Since detection of WNS in the United States in 2006, its rapid spread and high mortality has challenged development of treatment and prevention methods, a significant objective for wildlife management agencies. In an effort to mitigate precipitous declines in bat populations due to WNS, we have developed and implemented a multi-year mitigation strategy at Black Diamond Tunnel (BDT), Georgia, singly known as one of the most substantial winter colony sites for tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus), with pre-WNS abundance exceeding 5000 individuals. Our mitigation approach involved in situ treatment of bats at the colony level through aerosol distribution of antifungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that demonstrated an in vitro ability to inhibit P. destructans conidia germination and mycelial growth through contact-independent exposure. The VOCs evaluated have been identified from microbes inhabiting naturally-occurring fungistatic soils and endophytic fungi. These VOCs are of low toxicity to mammals and have been observed to elicit antagonism of P. destructans at low gaseous concentrations. Cumulatively, our observations resolved no detrimental impact on bat behavior or health, yet indicated a potential for attenuation of WNS related declines at BDT and demonstrated the feasibility of this novel disease management approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle T. Gabriel
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Ashley G. McDonald
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Kelly E. Lutsch
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Peter E. Pattavina
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Katrina M. Morris
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Wildlife Conservation Section, Social Circle, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Emily A. Ferrall
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Wildlife Conservation Section, Social Circle, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Sidney A. Crow
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Christopher T. Cornelison
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, United States of America
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14
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Forney R, Rios-Sotelo G, Lindauer A, Willis CKR, Voyles J. Temperature shifts associated with bat arousals during hibernation inhibit the growth of Pseudogymnoascus destructans. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211986. [PMID: 36425515 PMCID: PMC9682300 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Temperature is a critically important factor in many infectious disease systems, because it can regulate responses in both the host and the pathogen. White-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats is a severe infectious disease caused by the temperature-sensitive fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). One feature of WNS is an increase in the frequency of arousal bouts (i.e. when bat body temperatures are elevated) in Pd-infected bats during hibernation. While several studies have proposed that increased frequency of arousals may play a role in the pathophysiology of WNS, it is unknown if the temperature fluctuations might mediate Pd growth. We hypothesized that exposure to a high frequency of elevated temperatures would reduce Pd growth due to thermal constraints on the pathogen. We simulated the thermal conditions for arousal bouts of uninfected and infected bats during hibernation (fluctuating from 8 to 25°C at two different rates) and quantified Pd growth in vitro. We found that increased exposure to high temperatures significantly reduced Pd growth. Because temperature is one of the most critical abiotic factors mediating host-pathogen interactions, resolving how Pd responds to fluctuating temperatures will provide insights for understanding WNS in bats and other fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronny Forney
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | | | - Alexa Lindauer
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
- Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, Mammoth Lakes, CA, USA
| | - Craig K. R. Willis
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Jamie Voyles
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
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15
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First Isolation of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the Fungal Causative Agent of White-Nose Syndrome, in Korean Bats (Myotis petax). J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8101072. [PMID: 36294636 PMCID: PMC9605074 DOI: 10.3390/jof8101072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS), caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), is a lethal fungal disease that affects hibernating bats in North America. Recently, the presence of Pd was reported in countries neighboring Korea. However, Pd has not been investigated in Korea. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the presence of Pd in Korean bats. Altogether, wings from 241 bats were collected from 13 cities and cultured. A total of 79 fungal colonies were isolated, and two isolates were identified as Pd using polymerase chain reaction. Of the nine bat species captured in 13 cities, Pd was isolated only from Myotis petax in Goryeong. Atypical, curved conidia were observed in two isolated fungal colonies. Although histological lesions were not observed by hematoxylin and eosin or periodic acid−Schiff staining, fungal invasion was observed in the tissue sections. Taken together, these results confirmed the presence of Pd in Korean bats and suggest the possibility of WNS outbreaks in Korean bats. This is the first report of the isolation and molecular analysis of Pd from Korean bats.
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16
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Jackson RT, Willcox EV, Zobel JM, Bernard RF. Emergence activity at hibernacula differs among four bat species affected by white-nose syndrome. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9113. [PMID: 35845385 PMCID: PMC9277409 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior to the introduction of white‐nose syndrome (WNS) to North America, temperate bats were thought to remain within hibernacula throughout most of the winter. However, recent research has shown that bats in the southeastern United States emerge regularly from hibernation and are active on the landscape, regardless of their WNS status. The relationship between winter activity and susceptibility to WNS has yet to be explored but warrants attention, as it may enable managers to implement targeted management for WNS‐affected species. We investigated this relationship by implanting 1346 passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags in four species that vary in their susceptibility to WNS. Based on PIT‐tag detections, three species entered hibernation from late October to early November. Bats were active at hibernacula entrances on days when midpoint temperatures ranged from −1.94 to 22.78°C (mean midpoint temperature = 8.70 ± 0.33°C). Eastern small‐footed bats (Myotis leibii), a species with low susceptibility to WNS, were active throughout winter, with a significant decrease in activity in mid‐hibernation (December 16 to February 15). Tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus), a species that is highly susceptible to WNS, exhibited an increase in activity beginning in mid‐hibernation and extending through late hibernation (February 16 to March 31). Indiana bats (M. sodalis), a species determined to have a medium–high susceptibility to WNS, remained on the landscape into early hibernation (November 1 to December 15), after which we did not record any again until the latter portion of mid‐hibernation. Finally, gray bats (M. grisescens), another species with low susceptibility to WNS, maintained low but regular levels of activity throughout winter. Given these results, we determined that emergence activity from hibernacula during winter is highly variable among bat species and our data will assist wildlife managers to make informed decisions regarding the timing of implementation of species‐specific conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reilly T Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas USA.,Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee USA
| | - Emma V Willcox
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee USA
| | - John M Zobel
- Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota USA
| | - Riley F Bernard
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee USA.,Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
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17
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Forsythe A, Fontaine N, Bissonnette J, Hayashi B, Insuk C, Ghosh S, Kam G, Wong A, Lausen C, Xu J, Cheeptham N. Microbial isolates with Anti-Pseudogymnoascus destructans activities from Western Canadian bat wings. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9895. [PMID: 35701553 PMCID: PMC9198084 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14223-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) is the causative agent of white-nose syndrome, which has resulted in the death of millions of bats in North America (NA) since 2006. Based on mortalities in eastern NA, the westward spread of infections likely poses a significant threat to western NA bats. To help prevent/reduce Pd infections in bats in western NA, we isolated bacteria from the wings of wild bats and screened for inhibitory activity against Pd. In total, we obtained 1,362 bacterial isolates from 265 wild bats of 13 species in western Canada. Among the 1,362 isolates, 96 showed inhibitory activity against Pd based on a coculture assay. The inhibitory activities varied widely among these isolates, ranging from slowing fungal growth to complete inhibition. Interestingly, host bats containing isolates with anti-Pd activities were widely distributed, with no apparent geographic or species-specific pattern. However, characteristics of roosting sites and host demography showed significant associations with the isolation of anti-Pd bacteria. Specifically, anthropogenic roosts and swabs from young males had higher frequencies of anti-Pd bacteria than those from natural roosts and those from other sex and age-groups, respectively. These anti-Pd bacteria could be potentially used to help mitigate the impact of WNS. Field trials using these as well as additional microbes from future screenings are needed in order to determine their effectiveness for the prevention and treatment against WNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Forsythe
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Nick Fontaine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, V2C 08C, Canada
| | - Julianna Bissonnette
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, V2C 08C, Canada
| | - Brandon Hayashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, V2C 08C, Canada
| | - Chadabhorn Insuk
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, V2C 08C, Canada
| | - Soumya Ghosh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, V2C 08C, Canada.,Department of Genetics, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Gabrielle Kam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, V2C 08C, Canada
| | - Aaron Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, V2C 08C, Canada
| | - Cori Lausen
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, P.O. Box 606, Kaslo, BC, V0G 1M0, Canada.
| | - Jianping Xu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
| | - Naowarat Cheeptham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, V2C 08C, Canada.
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18
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Meteyer CU, Dutheil JY, Keel MK, Boyles JG, Stukenbrock EH. Plant pathogens provide clues to the potential origin of bat white-nose syndrome Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Virulence 2022; 13:1020-1031. [PMID: 35635339 PMCID: PMC9176227 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2082139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats, yet both the origins and infection strategy of the causative fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, remain elusive. We provide evidence for a novel hypothesis that P. destructans emerged from plant-associated fungi and retained invasion strategies affiliated with fungal pathogens of plants. We demonstrate that P. destructans invades bat skin in successive biotrophic and necrotrophic stages (hemibiotrophic infection), a mechanism previously only described in plant fungal pathogens. Further, the convergence of hyphae at hair follicles suggests nutrient tropism. Tropism, biotrophy, and necrotrophy are often associated with structures termed appressoria in plant fungal pathogens; the penetrating hyphae produced by P. destructans resemble appressoria. Finally, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis of a taxonomically diverse collection of fungi. Despite gaps in genetic sampling of prehistoric and contemporary fungal species, we estimate an 88% probability the ancestral state of the clade containing P. destructans was a plant-associated fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Uphoff Meteyer
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin 53711
| | - Julien Y. Dutheil
- Molecular Systems Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306 Plön, Germany
| | - M. Kevin Keel
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Dept of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Justin G. Boyles
- Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901
| | - Eva H. Stukenbrock
- Environmental Genomics Group, Botanical Institute, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany and Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306 Plön, Germany
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19
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Kearny VM, Perry RW, Risch TS, Rolland V. Distribution and Roost Site Selection of Eastern Small-Footed Bats (Myotis leibii) in Mountains of West-Central Arkansas. SOUTHEAST NAT 2022. [DOI: 10.1656/058.021.0201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Valerie M. Kearny
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 72467
| | - Roger W. Perry
- Forest Service Southern Research Station, Hot Springs, AR 71902
| | - Thomas S. Risch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 72467
| | - Virginie Rolland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 72467
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20
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Salazar-Hamm PS, Hathaway JJM, Winter AS, Caimi NA, Buecher DC, Valdez EW, Northup DE. Great diversity of KS α sequences from bat-associated microbiota suggests novel sources of uncharacterized natural products. FEMS MICROBES 2022; 3:xtac012. [PMID: 35573391 PMCID: PMC9097503 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtac012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are multidomain enzymes in microorganisms that synthesize complex, bioactive molecules. PKS II systems are iterative, containing only a single representative of each domain: ketosynthase alpha (KS[Formula: see text]), ketosynthase beta and the acyl carrier protein. Any gene encoding for one of these domains is representative of an entire PKS II biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC). Bat skin surfaces represent an extreme environment prolific in Actinobacteria that may constitute a source for bioactive molecule discovery. KS[Formula: see text] sequences were obtained from culturable bacteria from bats in the southwestern United States. From 467 bat bacterial isolates, we detected 215 (46%) had KS[Formula: see text] sequences. Sequencing yielded 210 operational taxonomic units, and phylogenetic placement found 45 (21%) shared <85% homology to characterized metabolites. Additionally, 16 Actinobacteria genomes from the bat microbiome were analyzed for biosynthetic capacity. A range of 69-93% of the BGCs were novel suggesting the bat microbiome may contain valuable uncharacterized natural products. Documenting and characterizing these are important in understanding the susceptibility of bats to emerging infectious diseases, such as white-nose syndrome. Also noteworthy was the relationship between KS [Formula: see text] homology and total BGC novelty within each fully sequenced strain. We propose amplification and detection of KS[Formula: see text] could predict a strain's global biosynthetic capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paris S Salazar-Hamm
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | | | - Ara S Winter
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | - Nicole A Caimi
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | | | - Ernest W Valdez
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, lbuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Diana E Northup
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
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21
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Winter torpor expression varies in four bat species with differential susceptibility to white-nose syndrome. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5688. [PMID: 35383238 PMCID: PMC8983705 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09692-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies examining the overwintering behaviors of North American hibernating bats are limited to a handful of species. We deployed temperature-sensitive transmitters on four species of bat that exhibit differences in their susceptibility to white nose syndrome (WNS; Myotis grisescens, M. leibii, M. sodalis, and Perimyotis subflavus) to determine if these differences are correlated with behavior exhibited during hibernation (i.e., torpor expression and arousal frequency). Mean torpor skin temperature (Tsk) and torpor bout duration varied significantly among species (P ≤ 0.024), but arousal Tsk and duration did not (P ≥ 0.057). One of the species with low susceptibility to WNS, M. leibii, had significantly shorter torpor bout durations (37.67 ± 26.89 h) than M. sodalis (260.67 ± 41.33 h), the species with medium susceptibility to WNS. Myotis leibii also had significantly higher torpor Tsk (18.57 °C ± 0.20) than M. grisescens (13.33 °C ± 0.60), a second species with low WNS susceptibility. The high susceptibility species, Perimyotis subflavus, exhibited low torpor Tsk (14.42 °C ± 0.36) but short torpor bouts (72.36 ± 32.16 h). We demonstrate that the four cavernicolous species examined exhibit a wide range in torpid skin temperature and torpor bout duration. Information from this study may improve WNS management in multispecies hibernacula or individual species management by providing insight into how some species may differ in their techniques for overwinter survival.
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22
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Beattie I, Schofer D, McGregor G, Lee MJ, Lee LKF, Himsworth CG, Byers KA. An Investigation of Bat Mortality in British Columbia, Canada. CAN J ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2021-0230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Identifying causes of wildlife mortality can yield an understanding of the factors that impact wildlife health. This is particularly significant for species that are facing population declines because this information can inform conservation and management practices. We evaluated causes of mortality for bats in British Columbia submitted to the provincial veterinary laboratory between 2015 and 2020, and assessed whether cause of death varied by species and/or was associated with bat characteristics (e.g., sex and body condition). Of the 275 bats included in this study, the most frequent cause of death was cat depredation (24%), followed by blunt force trauma (23%). Bats that died by cat depredation tended to be in good body condition as compared to those that died from other causes, and male bats were more likely to die from blunt force trauma compared with females. Emaciation was also an important cause of mortality (21%) and 8% of bats died due to rabies, with the greatest rabies prevalence in Eptesicus fuscus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1796). Our results demonstrate the potential burden of cat depredation on healthy bats and highlight the need for strategies to decrease cat depredation to support healthy bat populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imara Beattie
- University of Saskatchewan, 7235, Department of Pathology, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Animal Health Centre, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Delaney Schofer
- University of Saskatchewan, 7235, Department of Pathology, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Animal Health Centre, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Glenna McGregor
- Animal Health Centre, 113517, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael Joseph Lee
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Animal Health Centre, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
- The University of British Columbia, 8166, School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lisa K. F. Lee
- University of Saskatchewan, 7235, Department of Pathology, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Animal Health Centre, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Chelsea G Himsworth
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Animal Health Centre, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
- The University of British Columbia, 8166, School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Animal Health Centre, 113517, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kaylee Aileen Byers
- The University of British Columbia, 8166, School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Animal Health Centre, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
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23
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Grimaudo AT, Hoyt JR, Yamada SA, Herzog CJ, Bennett AB, Langwig KE. Host traits and environment interact to determine persistence of bat populations impacted by white-nose syndrome. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:483-497. [PMID: 34935272 PMCID: PMC9299823 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases have resulted in severe population declines across diverse taxa. In some instances, despite attributes associated with high extinction risk, disease emergence and host declines are followed by host stabilisation for unknown reasons. While host, pathogen, and the environment are recognised as important factors that interact to determine host-pathogen coexistence, they are often considered independently. Here, we use a translocation experiment to disentangle the role of host traits and environmental conditions in driving the persistence of remnant bat populations a decade after they declined 70-99% due to white-nose syndrome and subsequently stabilised. While survival was significantly higher than during the initial epidemic within all sites, protection from severe disease only existed within a narrow environmental space, suggesting host traits conducive to surviving disease are highly environmentally dependent. Ultimately, population persistence following pathogen invasion is the product of host-pathogen interactions that vary across a patchwork of environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph R. Hoyt
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
| | | | - Carl J. Herzog
- New York State Department of Environmental ConservationAlbanyNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Kate E. Langwig
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
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24
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Doty AC, Wilson AD, Forse LB, Risch TS. Biomarker Metabolites Discriminate between Physiological States of Field, Cave and White-nose Syndrome Diseased Bats. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22031031. [PMID: 35161777 PMCID: PMC8840073 DOI: 10.3390/s22031031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions using electronic-nose (e-nose) devices has shown promise for early detection of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats. Tricolored bats, Perimyotis subflavus, from three separate sampling groups defined by environmental conditions, levels of physical activity, and WNS-disease status were captured temporarily for collection of VOC emissions to determine relationships between these combinations of factors and physiological states, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd)-infection status, and metabolic conditions. Physiologically active (non-torpid) healthy individuals were captured outside of caves in Arkansas and Louisiana. In addition, healthy and WNS-diseased torpid bats were sampled within caves in Arkansas. Whole-body VOC emissions from bats were collected using portable air-collection and sampling-chamber devices in tandem. Electronic aroma-detection data using three-dimensional Principal Component Analysis provided strong evidence that the three groups of bats had significantly different e-nose aroma signatures, indicative of different VOC profiles. This was confirmed by differences in peak numbers, peak areas, and tentative chemical identities indicated by chromatograms from dual-column GC-analyses. The numbers and quantities of VOCs present in whole-body emissions from physiologically active healthy field bats were significantly greater than those of torpid healthy and diseased cave bats. Specific VOCs were identified as chemical biomarkers of healthy and diseased states, environmental conditions (outside and inside of caves), and levels of physiological activity. These results suggest that GC/E-nose dual-technologies based on VOC-detection and analyses of physiological states, provide noninvasive alternative means for early assessments of Pd-infection, WNS-disease status, and other physiological states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C. Doty
- Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA 93311, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72467, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-661-654-6836
| | - A. Dan Wilson
- Pathology Department, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, Center for Forest Genetics & Ecosystems Biology, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 432 Stoneville Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA; (A.D.W.); (L.B.F.)
| | - Lisa B. Forse
- Pathology Department, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, Center for Forest Genetics & Ecosystems Biology, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 432 Stoneville Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA; (A.D.W.); (L.B.F.)
| | - Thomas S. Risch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72467, USA;
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72467, USA
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25
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Meierhofer MB, Leivers SJ, Pierce BL, Powers GW, Evans JW, Morrison ML. Structural and environmental predictors of tricolored bat presence and abundance in Texas caves. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The identification of bat colonies is essential to conserve and manage these globally threatened mammals. Caves offer potential roosting locations (hibernacula) to hibernating bat species; however, identifying regions where bat-occupied caves exist can be time-consuming. In Texas, caves are often on privately owned land, creating difficulties for accessing and managing potential hibernacula. The tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), a species susceptible to white-nose syndrome, hibernates in caves in the winter in Texas. We sought to identify and quantify site-specific structural and environmental features that influence the presence and abundance of overwintering tricolored bats. We surveyed caves for bats and recorded environmental and structural features of 116 caves January–February 2016, December–February 2016–2017, January–February 2018, and December–February 2018–2019. We used a zero-inflated Poisson regression to identify which features best explained the presence and abundance of tricolored bats. We found that bat presence increased as cave length decreased, and as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and external vapor pressure deficit increased. Bat abundance increased as number of portals, cave length, NDVI, and external temperature increased. Combining surface data with subsurface features can assist with identifying specific karst regions and known caves within those regions for survey and management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa B Meierhofer
- Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Natural Resources Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Samantha J Leivers
- Natural Resources Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Brian L Pierce
- Natural Resources Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Garrett W Powers
- Natural Resources Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jonah W Evans
- Wildlife Diversity Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Boerne, TX, USA
| | - Michael L Morrison
- Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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First report of infection by Debaryomyces spp. in Myotis velifer (cave myotis) in Mexico. ACTA VET BRNO 2021. [DOI: 10.2754/avb202190030301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Interest in the study of mycotic diseases in bats has increased after the identification of bats affected by white-nose syndrome in the northern United States. In a temperate forest of the community of San Pedro Yolox, Ixtlán in the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca, Mexico, we collected bats of various species, including 13 specimens of Myotis velifer that showed lesions in the plagio- and uro-patagium. Clinical exploration, histopathological studies and molecular analysis were carried out to determine the causal agent of the lesions present in these individuals. It was determined that the cause was the pathogenic fungus Debaryomyces spp. The present study represents the first report of fungal infection in bats in southern Mexico.
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Bat activity patterns relative to temporal and weather effects in a temperate coastal environment. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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28
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Johnston RA, Rheinwald JG, vonHoldt BM, Stahler DR, Lowry W, Tung J, Wayne RK. K Locus Effects in Gray Wolves: Experimental Assessment of TLR3 Signaling and the Gene Expression Response to Canine Distemper Virus. J Hered 2021; 112:458-468. [PMID: 34132805 PMCID: PMC8567826 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In North American gray wolves, black coat color is dominantly inherited via a 3 base pair coding deletion in the canine beta defensin 3 (CBD103) gene. This 3 base pair deletion, called the KB allele, was introduced through hybridization with dogs and subsequently underwent a selective sweep that increased its frequency in wild wolves. Despite apparent positive selection, KBB wolves have lower fitness than wolves with the KyB genotype, even though the 2 genotypes show no observable differences in black coat color. Thus, the KB allele is thought to have pleiotropic effects on as-yet unknown phenotypes. Given the role of skin-expressed CBD103 in innate immunity, we hypothesized that the KB allele influences the keratinocyte gene expression response to TLR3 pathway stimulation and/or infection by canine distemper virus (CDV). To test this hypothesis, we developed a panel of primary epidermal keratinocyte cell cultures from 24 wild North American gray wolves of both Kyy and KyB genotypes. In addition, we generated an immortalized Kyy line and used CRISPR/Cas9 editing to produce a KyB line on the same genetic background. We assessed the transcriptome-wide responses of wolf keratinocytes to the TLR3 agonist polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C), and to live CDV. K locus genotype did not predict the transcriptional response to either challenge, suggesting that variation in the gene expression response does not explain pleiotropic effects of the KB allele on fitness. This study supports the feasibility of using cell culture methods to investigate the phenotypic effects of naturally occurring genetic variation in wild mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Johnston
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - James G Rheinwald
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bridgett M vonHoldt
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Daniel R Stahler
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA
| | - William Lowry
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jenny Tung
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Robert K Wayne
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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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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Integrating Multiple Survey Techniques to Document a Shifting Bat Community in the Wake of White-Nose Syndrome. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.3996/jfwm-20-043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The long-term study of bat communities often depends on a diverse set of sampling methodologies that are chosen based on the species or habitat management priorities of the research project. Integrating the data from a diverse set of methodologies (such as acoustic monitoring and mist net sampling) would improve our ability to characterize changes in community structure or composition over time, such as one would expect following an emergent infectious disease such as white-nose syndrome. We developed a Bayesian state-space model to integrate these disparate data into a common currency (relative abundance). We collected both acoustic monitoring and mist net capture data over an 8-y period (2006–2014) to document shifts in the bat community in central New England, USA, in response to the onset of white-nose syndrome in 2009. The integrated data model shows a significant decline in the abundance of little brown bat Myotis lucifugus, northern long-eared bat Myotis septentrionalis, and hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus, and an increase in abundance of the eastern small-footed bat Myotis leibii and the eastern red bat Lasiurus borealis. There was no evidence for a change in abundance in the big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus since the onset of white-nose syndrome. The consistency of this model with regional estimates of decline over the same time period support the validity of our relative abundance estimate. This model provides the opportunity to quantify shifts in other communities where multiple sampling methodologies were employed, and therefore provides natural resource managers with a robust tool to integrate existing sampling data to quantify changes in community composition that can inform conservation and management recommendations.
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Meierhofer MB, Lilley TM, Ruokolainen L, Johnson JS, Parratt SR, Morrison ML, Pierce BL, Evans JW, Anttila J. Ten-year projection of white-nose syndrome disease dynamics at the southern leading-edge of infection in North America. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210719. [PMID: 34074117 PMCID: PMC8170204 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Predicting the emergence and spread of infectious diseases is critical for the effective conservation of biodiversity. White-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging infectious disease of bats, has resulted in high mortality in eastern North America. Because the fungal causative agent Pseudogymnoascus destructans is constrained by temperature and humidity, spread dynamics may vary by geography. Environmental conditions in the southern part of the continent are different than the northeast, where disease dynamics are typically studied, making it difficult to predict how the disease will manifest. Herein, we modelled WNS pathogen spread in Texas based on cave densities and average dispersal distances of hosts, projecting these results out to 10 years. We parameterized a predictive model of WNS epidemiology and its effects on bat populations with observed cave environmental data. Our model suggests that bat populations in northern Texas will be more affected by WNS mortality than southern Texas. As such, we recommend prioritizing the preservation of large overwintering colonies of bats in north Texas through management actions. Our model illustrates that infectious disease spread and infectious disease severity can become uncoupled over a gradient of environmental variation and highlight the importance of understanding host, pathogen and environmental conditions across a breadth of environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa B Meierhofer
- Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Boulevard, College Station, TX 77843, USA.,Natural Resources Institute, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Boulevard, College Station, TX 77843, USA.,Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Thomas M Lilley
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lasse Ruokolainen
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joseph S Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Steven R Parratt
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK
| | - Michael L Morrison
- Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Boulevard, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Brian L Pierce
- Natural Resources Institute, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Boulevard, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Jonah W Evans
- Wildlife Diversity Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, USA
| | - Jani Anttila
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
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32
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Garzoli L, Bozzetta E, Varello K, Cappelleri A, Patriarca E, Debernardi P, Riccucci M, Boggero A, Girometta C, Picco AM. White-Nose Syndrome Confirmed in Italy: A Preliminary Assessment of Its Occurrence in Bat Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:192. [PMID: 33803110 PMCID: PMC8000523 DOI: 10.3390/jof7030192] [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: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although no mass mortality has been recorded so far, the precise demographic effect of white-nose syndrome (WNS) on European bats still remains to be ascertained. Following the first isolation of P. destructans in Italy, further surveys were performed to assess the distribution of the fungus in NW Italy and its effects on bats. Data were collected from March 2019 to April 2020 at sites used for hibernation (six sites) and/or for reproduction (four sites) in Piedmont and Aosta Valley. A total of 138 bats, belonging to 10 species, were examined to identify clinical features possibly related to the fungal presence. Culture from swabs and the molecular identification of isolates confirmed the presence of P. destructans in bats from five sites, including two maternal roosts. Dermal fungal infiltration, the criterion to assess the presence of WNS, was observed in biopsies of bats belonging to Myotis blythii, M. daubentonii, M. emarginatus and M. myotis. This is the first report of the disease in Italy. The results suggest a greater susceptibility to the infection of the genus Myotis and particularly of M. emarginatus, possibly due to the long length of its hibernation period. Other fungal dermatophytes were also observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Garzoli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (C.G.); (A.M.P.)
- S.Te.P. Stazione Teriologica Piemontese, 10022 Carmagnola, Italy; (E.P.); (P.D.)
- CNR-Water Research Institute (IRSA), 28922 Verbania, Italy;
| | - Elena Bozzetta
- Department of Specialised Diagnostic, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Turin, Italy; (E.B.); (K.V.)
| | - Katia Varello
- Department of Specialised Diagnostic, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Turin, Italy; (E.B.); (K.V.)
| | - Andrea Cappelleri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, 26900 Lodi, Italy;
- Mouse and Animal Pathology Laboratory (MAPLab), Fondazione UniMi, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Patriarca
- S.Te.P. Stazione Teriologica Piemontese, 10022 Carmagnola, Italy; (E.P.); (P.D.)
| | - Paolo Debernardi
- S.Te.P. Stazione Teriologica Piemontese, 10022 Carmagnola, Italy; (E.P.); (P.D.)
| | - Marco Riccucci
- Zoological Section «La Specola», Museum of Natural History of the University of Florence, 50125 Florence, Italy;
| | - Angela Boggero
- CNR-Water Research Institute (IRSA), 28922 Verbania, Italy;
| | - Carolina Girometta
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (C.G.); (A.M.P.)
| | - Anna Maria Picco
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (C.G.); (A.M.P.)
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Abstract
The recent introduction of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (the fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome in bats) from Eurasia to North America has resulted in the collapse of North American bat populations and restructured species communities. The long evolutionary history between P. destructans and bats in Eurasia makes understanding host life history essential to uncovering the ecology of P. destructans. In this Review, we combine information on pathogen and host biology to understand the patterns of P. destructans spread, seasonal transmission ecology, the pathogenesis of white-nose syndrome and the cross-scale impact from individual hosts to ecosystems. Collectively, this research highlights how early pathogen detection and quantification of host impacts has accelerated the understanding of this newly emerging infectious disease.
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Hicks LL, Schwab NA, Homyack JA, Jones JE, Maxell BA, Burkholder BO. A statistical approach to white-nose syndrome surveillance monitoring using acoustic data. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241052. [PMID: 33091068 PMCID: PMC7580964 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional pathogen surveillance methods for white-nose syndrome (WNS), the most serious threat to hibernating North American bats, focus on fungal presence where large congregations of hibernating bats occur. However, in the western USA, WNS-susceptible bat species rarely assemble in large numbers and known winter roosts are uncommon features. WNS increases arousal frequency and activity of infected bats during hibernation. Our objective was to explore the effectiveness of acoustic monitoring as a surveillance tool for WNS. We propose a non-invasive approach to model pre-WNS baseline activity rates for comparison with future acoustic data after WNS is suspected to occur. We investigated relationships among bat activity, ambient temperatures, and season prior to presence of WNS across forested sites of Montana, USA where WNS was not known to occur. We used acoustic monitors to collect bat activity and ambient temperature data year-round on 41 sites, 2011-2019. We detected a diverse bat community across managed (n = 4) and unmanaged (n = 37) forest sites and recorded over 5.37 million passes from bats, including 13 identified species. Bats were active year-round, but positive associations between average of the nightly temperatures by month and bat activity were strongest in spring and fall. From these data, we developed site-specific prediction models for bat activity to account for seasonal and annual temperature variation prior to known occurrence of WNS. These prediction models can be used to monitor changes in bat activity that may signal potential presence of WNS, such as greater than expected activity in winter, or less than expected activity during summer. We propose this model-based method for future monitoring efforts that could be used to trigger targeted sampling of individual bats or hibernacula for WNS, in areas where traditional disease surveillance approaches are logistically difficult to implement or because of human-wildlife transmission concerns from COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jay E. Jones
- Weyerhaeuser, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Bryce A. Maxell
- Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana, United States of America
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McClure ML, Crowley D, Haase CG, McGuire LP, Fuller NW, Hayman DTS, Lausen CL, Plowright RK, Dickson BG, Olson SH. Linking surface and subterranean climate: implications for the study of hibernating bats and other cave dwellers. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Meredith L. McClure
- Conservation Science Partners 11050 Pioneer Trail Suite 202 Truckee California96161USA
| | - Daniel Crowley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Montana State University 109 Lewis Hall Bozeman Montana59717USA
| | - Catherine G. Haase
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Montana State University 109 Lewis Hall Bozeman Montana59717USA
| | - Liam P. McGuire
- Department of Biological Sciences Texas Tech University 2901 Main Street Lubbock Texas79409USA
| | - Nathan W. Fuller
- Department of Biological Sciences Texas Tech University 2901 Main Street Lubbock Texas79409USA
| | - David T. S. Hayman
- mEpiLab Hopkirk Research Institute Massey University Palmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Cori L. Lausen
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada Kaslo British ColumbiaV0G 1M0Canada
| | - Raina K. Plowright
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Montana State University 109 Lewis Hall Bozeman Montana59717USA
| | - Brett G. Dickson
- Conservation Science Partners 11050 Pioneer Trail Suite 202 Truckee California96161USA
- Landscape Conservation Initiative School of Earth and Sustainability Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Arizona86001USA
| | - Sarah H. Olson
- Wildlife Conservation Society Health Program Bronx New York10460USA
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Veselská T, Homutová K, García Fraile P, Kubátová A, Martínková N, Pikula J, Kolařík M. Comparative eco-physiology revealed extensive enzymatic curtailment, lipases production and strong conidial resilience of the bat pathogenic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16530. [PMID: 33020524 PMCID: PMC7536203 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73619-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Pseudogymnoascus encompasses soil psychrophilic fungi living also in caves. Some are opportunistic pathogens; nevertheless, they do not cause outbreaks. Pseudogymnoascus destructans is the causative agent of the white-nose syndrome, which is decimating cave-hibernating bats. We used comparative eco-physiology to contrast the enzymatic potential and conidial resilience of P. destructans with that of phylogenetically diverse cave fungi, including Pseudogymnoascus spp., dermatophytes and outdoor saprotrophs. Enzymatic potential was assessed by Biolog MicroArray and by growth on labelled substrates and conidial viability was detected by flow cytometry. Pseudogymnoascus destructans was specific by extensive losses of metabolic variability and by ability of lipid degradation. We suppose that lipases are important enzymes allowing fungal hyphae to digest and invade the skin. Pseudogymnoascus destructans prefers nitrogenous substrates occurring in bat skin and lipids. Additionally, P. destructans alkalizes growth medium, which points to another possible virulence mechanism. Temperature above 30 °C substantially decreases conidial viability of cave fungi including P. destructans. Nevertheless, survival of P. destructans conidia prolongs by the temperature regime simulating beginning of the flight season, what suggests that conidia could persist on the body surface of bats and contribute to disease spreading during bats active season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Veselská
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Vídeňská 1083, 14220, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 12801, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Karolína Homutová
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Vídeňská 1083, 14220, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Paula García Fraile
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Vídeňská 1083, 14220, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Kubátová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 12801, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Natália Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Květná 8, 60365, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého třída 1946/1, 61242, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Kolařík
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Vídeňská 1083, 14220, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Hartman CJ, Mester JC, Hare PM, Cohen AI. Novel inactivation of the causative fungal pathogen of white-nose syndrome with methoxsalen plus ultraviolet A or B radiation. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239001. [PMID: 32915896 PMCID: PMC7485863 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239001] [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: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease responsible for the rapid decline of North American bat populations. This study addressed a novel method for inactivating Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of WNS, using ultraviolet A (UVA) or B (UVB) radiation in combination with methoxsalen, a photosensitizer from the furanocoumarin family of compounds. Fungal spore suspensions were diluted in micromolar concentrations of methoxsalen (50–500 μM), then exposed to fixed doses of UVA radiation (500–5000 mJ/cm2), followed by plating on germination media. These plates were examined for two to four weeks for evidence of spore germination or inactivation, along with resultant growth or inhibition of P. destructans colonies. Pretreatment of fungal spores with low doses of methoxsalen resulted in a UVA dose-dependent inactivation of the P. destructans spores. All doses of methoxsalen paired with 500 mJ/cm2 of UVA led to an approximate two-log10 (~99%) reduction in spore viability, and when paired with 1000 mJ/cm2, a four-log10 or greater (>99.99%) reduction in spore viability was observed. Additionally, actively growing P. destructans colonies treated directly with methoxsalen and either UVA or UVB radiation demonstrated UV dose-dependent inhibition and termination of colony growth. This novel approach of using a photosensitizer in combination with UV radiation to control fungal growth may have broad, practical application in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J. Hartman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Joseph C. Mester
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Patrick M. Hare
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Alan I. Cohen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky, United States of America
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38
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Nocera T, Ford WM, Dobony C, Silvis A. Temporal and Spatial Changes in Myotis lucifugus Acoustic Activity Before and After White-Nose Syndrome on Fort Drum Army Installation, New York, USA. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2020.22.1.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Nocera
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, 149 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - W. Mark Ford
- US Geological Survey, Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 106 Cheatham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Christopher Dobony
- Fort Drum Military Installation, Directorate of Public Works, Natural Resource Branch, T-4848 Delahanty Ave., Fort Drum, NY 13602-5097, USA
| | - Alexander Silvis
- West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Box 67, Elkins WV 24261, USA
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Magnino MZ, Holder KA, Norton SA. White-nose syndrome: A novel dermatomycosis of biologic interest and epidemiologic consequence. Clin Dermatol 2020; 39:299-303. [PMID: 34272026 PMCID: PMC7395813 DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2020.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 10 years, the environmental and veterinary communities have sounded alarms over an insidious keratinophilous fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, that has decimated populations of bats (yes, bats, chiropterans) throughout North America and, most recently, Northern China and Siberia. We as dermatologists may find this invasive keratinophilous fungus of particular interest, as its method of destruction is disruption of the homeostatic mechanism of the bat wing integument. Although it is unlikely that this pathogen will become an infectious threat to humans, its environmental impact will likely affect us all, especially as recent data have shown upregulation of naturally occurring coronaviruses in coinfected bats. Dermatologists are familiar with keratinophilous dermatophyte infections, but these rarely cause serious morbidity in individual patients and never cause crisis on a population basis. This contribution describes the effects of P destructans on both the individual and the population basis. Bringing the white-nose syndrome to the attention of human dermatologists and skin scientists may invite transfer of expertise in understanding the disease, its pathophysiology, epidemiology, treatment, and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kali A Holder
- Department of Wildlife Health Sciences, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Scott A Norton
- Department of Dermatology, The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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40
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Lemieux-Labonté V, Dorville NASY, Willis CKR, Lapointe FJ. Antifungal Potential of the Skin Microbiota of Hibernating Big Brown Bats ( Eptesicus fuscus) Infected With the Causal Agent of White-Nose Syndrome. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1776. [PMID: 32793178 PMCID: PMC7390961 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about skin microbiota in the context of the disease white-nose syndrome (WNS), caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), that has caused enormous declines of hibernating North American bats over the past decade. Interestingly, some hibernating species, such as the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), appear resistant to the disease and their skin microbiota could play a role. However, a comprehensive analysis of the skin microbiota of E. fuscus in the context of Pd has not been done. In January 2017, we captured hibernating E. fuscus, sampled their skin microbiota, and inoculated them with Pd or sham inoculum. We allowed the bats to hibernate in the lab under controlled conditions for 11 weeks and then sampled their skin microbiota to test the following hypotheses: (1) Pd infection would not disrupt the skin microbiota of Pd-resistant E. fuscus; and (2) microbial taxa with antifungal properties would be abundant both before and after inoculation with Pd. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we discovered that beta diversity of Pd-inoculated bats changed more over time than that of sham-inoculated bats. Still, the most abundant taxa in the community were stable throughout the experiment. Among the most abundant taxa, Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus are known for antifungal potential against Pd and other fungi. Thus, in contrast to hypothesis 1, Pd infection destabilized the skin microbiota but consistent with hypothesis 2, bacteria with known antifungal properties remained abundant and stable on the skin. This study is the first to provide a comprehensive survey of skin microbiota of E. fuscus, suggesting potential associations between the bat skin microbiota and resistance to the Pd infection and WNS. These results set the stage for future studies to characterize microbiota gene expression, better understand mechanisms of resistance to WNS, and help develop conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole A. S.-Y. Dorville
- Department of Biology, Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Craig K. R. Willis
- Department of Biology, Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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41
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Ineson KM, O’Shea TJ, Kilpatrick CW, Parise KL, Foster JT. Ambiguities in using telomere length for age determination in two North American bat species. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe age of an animal, determined by time (chronological age) as well as genetic and environmental factors (biological age), influences the likelihood of mortality and reproduction and thus the animal’s contribution to population growth. For many long-lived species, such as bats, a lack of external and morphological indicators has made determining age a challenge, leading researchers to examine genetic markers of age for application to demographic studies. One widely studied biomarker of age is telomere length, which has been related both to chronological and biological age across taxa, but only recently has begun to be studied in bats. We assessed telomere length from the DNA of known-age and minimum known-age individuals of two bat species using a quantitative PCR assay. We determined that telomere length was quadratically related to chronological age in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), although it had little predictive power for accurate age determination of unknown-age individuals. The relationship was different in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), where telomere length instead was correlated with biological age, apparently due to infection and wing damage associated with white-nose syndrome. Furthermore, we showed that wing biopsies currently are a better tissue source for studying telomere length in bats than guano and buccal swabs; the results from the latter group were more variable and potentially influenced by storage time. Refinement of collection and assessment methods for different non-lethally collected tissues will be important for longitudinal sampling to better understand telomere dynamics in these long-lived species. Although further work is needed to develop a biomarker capable of determining chronological age in bats, our results suggest that biological age, as reflected in telomere length, may be influenced by extrinsic stressors such as disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Ineson
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Thomas J O’Shea
- United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Katy L Parise
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- Pathogen & Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
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42
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Micalizzi EW, Smith ML. Volatile organic compounds kill the white-nose syndrome fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, in hibernaculum sediment. Can J Microbiol 2020; 66:593-599. [PMID: 32485113 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2020-0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome, has killed millions of bats across eastern North America and continues to threaten new bat populations. The spread and persistence of P. destructans has likely been worsened by the ability of this fungus to grow as a saprotroph in the hibernaculum environment. Reducing the environmental growth of P. destructans may improve bat survival. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are attractive candidates to target environmental P. destructans, as they can permeate through textured environments that may be difficult to thoroughly contact with other control mechanisms. We tested in hibernaculum sediment the performance of VOCs that were previously shown to inhibit P. destructans growth in agar cultures and examined the inhibition kinetics and specificity of these compounds. Three VOCs, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, and 1-pentanol, were fungicidal towards P. destructans in hibernaculum sediment, fast-acting, and had greater effects against P. destructans than other Pseudogymnoascus species. Our results suggest that use of these VOCs may be considered further as an effective management strategy to reduce the environmental exposure of bats to P. destructans in hibernacula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma W Micalizzi
- Department of Biology, Nesbitt Building, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.,Department of Biology, Nesbitt Building, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Myron L Smith
- Department of Biology, Nesbitt Building, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.,Department of Biology, Nesbitt Building, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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43
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Genome-Wide Changes in Genetic Diversity in a Population of Myotis lucifugus Affected by White-Nose Syndrome. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:2007-2020. [PMID: 32276959 PMCID: PMC7263666 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Novel pathogens can cause massive declines in populations, and even extirpation of hosts. But disease can also act as a selective pressure on survivors, driving the evolution of resistance or tolerance. Bat white-nose syndrome (WNS) is a rapidly spreading wildlife disease in North America. The fungus causing the disease invades skin tissues of hibernating bats, resulting in disruption of hibernation behavior, premature energy depletion, and subsequent death. We used whole-genome sequencing to investigate changes in allele frequencies within a population of Myotis lucifugus in eastern North America to search for genetic resistance to WNS. Our results show low FST values within the population across time, i.e., prior to WNS (Pre-WNS) compared to the population that has survived WNS (Post-WNS). However, when dividing the population with a geographical cut-off between the states of Pennsylvania and New York, a sharp increase in values on scaffold GL429776 is evident in the Post-WNS samples. Genes present in the diverged area are associated with thermoregulation and promotion of brown fat production. Thus, although WNS may not have subjected the entire M. lucifugus population to selective pressure, it may have selected for specific alleles in Pennsylvania through decreased gene flow within the population. However, the persistence of remnant sub-populations in the aftermath of WNS is likely due to multiple factors in bat life history.
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44
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Bernard RF, Reichard JD, Coleman JTH, Blackwood JC, Verant ML, Segers JL, Lorch JM, White J, Moore MS, Russell AL, Katz RA, Lindner DL, Toomey RS, Turner GG, Frick WF, Vonhof MJ, Willis CKR, Grant EHC. Identifying research needs to inform white‐nose syndrome management decisions. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Riley F. Bernard
- Department of Ecosystem Science and ManagementPennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania USA
- United States Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research CenterSO Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory Turners Falls Massachusetts USA
| | | | | | - Julie C. Blackwood
- Department of Mathematics and StatisticsWilliams College Williamstown Massachusetts USA
| | - Michelle L. Verant
- Biological Resource DivisionWildlife Health Branch Fort Collins Colorado USA
| | - Jordi L. Segers
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Charlottetown Prince Edward Island Canada
| | - Jeffery M. Lorch
- United States Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center Madison Wisconsin USA
| | - John White
- Bureau of Natural Heritage ConservationWisconsin Department of Natural Resources Madison Wisconsin USA
| | - Marianne S. Moore
- College of Integrative Science and ArtsArizona State University Mesa Arizona USA
| | - Amy L. Russell
- Department of BiologyGrand Valley State University Allendale Michigan USA
| | - Rachel A. Katz
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service Hadley Massachusetts USA
| | - Daniel L. Lindner
- United States Forest ServiceNorthern Research Station Madison Wisconsin USA
| | | | | | - Winifred F. Frick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California Santa Cruz California USA
- Bat Conservation International Austin Texas USA
| | - Maarten J. Vonhof
- Department of Biological SciencesWestern Michigan University Kalamazoo Michigan USA
- Institute of the Environment and SustainabilityWestern Michigan University Kalamazoo Michigan USA
| | | | - Evan H. C. Grant
- United States Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research CenterSO Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory Turners Falls Massachusetts USA
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45
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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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46
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Fisher MC, Gurr SJ, Cuomo CA, Blehert DS, Jin H, Stukenbrock EH, Stajich JE, Kahmann R, Boone C, Denning DW, Gow NAR, Klein BS, Kronstad JW, Sheppard DC, Taylor JW, Wright GD, Heitman J, Casadevall A, Cowen LE. Threats Posed by the Fungal Kingdom to Humans, Wildlife, and Agriculture. mBio 2020; 11:e00449-20. [PMID: 32371596 PMCID: PMC7403777 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00449-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungal kingdom includes at least 6 million eukaryotic species and is remarkable with respect to its profound impact on global health, biodiversity, ecology, agriculture, manufacturing, and biomedical research. Approximately 625 fungal species have been reported to infect vertebrates, 200 of which can be human associated, either as commensals and members of our microbiome or as pathogens that cause infectious diseases. These organisms pose a growing threat to human health with the global increase in the incidence of invasive fungal infections, prevalence of fungal allergy, and the evolution of fungal pathogens resistant to some or all current classes of antifungals. More broadly, there has been an unprecedented and worldwide emergence of fungal pathogens affecting animal and plant biodiversity. Approximately 8,000 species of fungi and Oomycetes are associated with plant disease. Indeed, across agriculture, such fungal diseases of plants include new devastating epidemics of trees and jeopardize food security worldwide by causing epidemics in staple and commodity crops that feed billions. Further, ingestion of mycotoxins contributes to ill health and causes cancer. Coordinated international research efforts, enhanced technology translation, and greater policy outreach by scientists are needed to more fully understand the biology and drivers that underlie the emergence of fungal diseases and to mitigate against their impacts. Here, we focus on poignant examples of emerging fungal threats in each of three areas: human health, wildlife biodiversity, and food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Fisher
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J Gurr
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Christina A Cuomo
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David S Blehert
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Hailing Jin
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Eva H Stukenbrock
- Max Planck Fellow Group Environmental Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
- Environmental Genomics, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Organismic Interactions, Marburg, Germany
| | - Charles Boone
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - David W Denning
- The National Aspergillosis Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Neil A R Gow
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Bruce S Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, and Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - James W Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Donald C Sheppard
- McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunology, Departments of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - John W Taylor
- University of California-Berkeley, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Gerard D Wright
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Medicine, and Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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47
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Fuller NW, McGuire LP, Pannkuk EL, Blute T, Haase CG, Mayberry HW, Risch TS, Willis CKR. Disease recovery in bats affected by white-nose syndrome. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb211912. [PMID: 32054681 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.211912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Processes associated with recovery of survivors are understudied components of wildlife infectious diseases. White-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats provides an opportunity to study recovery of disease survivors, understand implications of recovery for individual energetics, and assess the role of survivors in pathogen transmission. We documented temporal patterns of recovery from WNS in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) following hibernation to test the hypotheses that: (1) recovery of wing structure from WNS matches a rapid time scale (i.e. approximately 30 days) suggested by data from free-ranging bats; (2) torpor expression plays a role in recovery; (3) wing physiological function returns to normal alongside structural recovery; and (4) pathogen loads decline quickly during recovery. We collected naturally infected bats at the end of hibernation, brought them into captivity, and quantified recovery over 40 days by monitoring body mass, wing damage, thermoregulation, histopathology of wing biopsies, skin surface lipids and fungal load. Most metrics returned to normal within 30 days, although wing damage was still detectable at the end of the study. Torpor expression declined overall throughout the study, but bats expressed relatively shallow torpor bouts - with a plateau in minimum skin temperature - during intensive healing between approximately days 8 and 15. Pathogen loads were nearly undetectable after the first week of the study, but some bats were still detectably infected at day 40. Our results suggest that healing bats face a severe energetic imbalance during early recovery from direct costs of healing and reduced foraging efficiency. Management of WNS should not rely solely on actions during winter, but should also aim to support energy balance of recovering bats during spring and summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Fuller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main Street, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Liam P McGuire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main Street, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Evan L Pannkuk
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3970 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Todd Blute
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Catherine G Haase
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Heather W Mayberry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 1C6
| | - Thomas S Risch
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, P.O. Box 847, Jonesboro, AR 72467, USA
| | - Craig K R Willis
- Department of Biology and Centre for Forest Inter-Disciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3B 2E9
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48
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Perry RW, Jordan PN. Survival and persistence of tricolored bats hibernating in Arkansas mines. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS) has caused large declines in bat populations across eastern North America, making information on demographics of affected species critical to determining their risk for extinction. We used Cormack–Jolly–Seber models to estimate apparent survival rates of hibernating tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) for 5 years in four small abandoned mines in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, located within the WNS endemic area of the United States. Populations in individual mines varied greatly in survival rates, with one mine displaying annual survival rates as high as 0.706 and another as low as 0.101. Differences in survival among bats in different mines could not definitively be attributed to WNS, but may have varied based on a combination of WNS, disturbance, mine climate, and other unknown factors. Further, some hibernacula may have served as temporary winter shelter for young transient males. Sites housing small colonies of hibernating bats may result in high survival rates despite WNS, and protecting these smaller sites may be important for overall species perseverance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger W Perry
- Southern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, Hot Springs, AR, USA
| | - Phillip N Jordan
- Southern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, Hot Springs, AR, USA
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49
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Auteri GG, Knowles LL. Decimated little brown bats show potential for adaptive change. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3023. [PMID: 32080246 PMCID: PMC7033193 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59797-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The degree to which species can rapidly adapt is key to survival in the face of climatic and other anthropogenic changes. For little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), whose populations have experienced declines of over 90% because of the introduced fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS), survival of the species may ultimately depend upon its capacity for adaptive change. Here, we present evidence of selectively driven change (adaptation), despite dramatic nonadaptive genomic shifts (genetic drift) associated with population declines. We compared the genetic makeups of wild survivors versus non-survivors of WNS, and found significant shifts in allele frequencies of genes associated with regulating arousal from hibernation (GABARB1), breakdown of fats (cGMP-PK1), and vocalizations (FOXP2). Changes at these genes are suggestive of evolutionary adaptation, given that WNS causes bats to arouse with unusual frequency from hibernation, contributing to premature depletion of fat reserves. However, whether these putatively adaptive shifts in allele frequencies translate into sufficient increases in survival for the species to rebound in the face of WNS is unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia G Auteri
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - L Lacey Knowles
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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50
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Doty AC, Wilson AD, Forse LB, Risch TS. Assessment of the Portable C-320 Electronic Nose for Discrimination of Nine Insectivorous Bat Species: Implications for Monitoring White-Nose Syndrome. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2020; 10:bios10020012. [PMID: 32069963 PMCID: PMC7168176 DOI: 10.3390/bios10020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The development of new C-320 electronic-nose (e-nose) methods for pre-symptomatic detection of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in bats has required efficacy studies of instrument capabilities to discriminate between major sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) derived from clinical samples. In this phase-2 study, we further tested this e-nose for capabilities to distinguish between bat species based on differences in whole-body VOC emissions. Live healthy individuals of nine bat species were temporarily captured outside of caves in Arkansas and Louisiana. VOC emissions from bats were collected using newly developed portable air collection and sampling-chamber devices in tandem. Sensor-array output responses to bat VOC emissions were compared to those of 22 pure VOC analytical standards from five chemical classes. Distinct smellprint signatures were produced from e-nose analyses of VOC metabolites derived from individual bat species. Smellprint patterns were analyzed using 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to produce aroma map plots showing effective discrimination between bat species with high statistical significance. These results demonstrate potential instrument efficacy for distinguishing between species-specific, bat-derived VOC metabolite emissions as major components of clinical samples collected from bats in caves for disease detection prior to symptom development. This study provided additional information required to fully test the efficacy of a portable e-nose instrument for diagnostic applications in subsequent phase-3 testing of noninvasive, early WNS disease detection in intra-cave hibernating bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C. Doty
- Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA 93311, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72467, USA;
- Correspondence: (A.C.D.); Tel.: +1-870-530-2955
| | - A. Dan Wilson
- Pathology Department, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA; (A.D.W.); (L.B.F.)
| | - Lisa B. Forse
- Pathology Department, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA; (A.D.W.); (L.B.F.)
| | - Thomas S. Risch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72467, USA;
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