Publication details
WHITE NOSE SYNDROME AS A POTENTIAL THREAT FOR EUROPEAN BATS
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | A striking feature of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal infection of hibernating bats, is the difference in infection outcome between North America and Europe. In our studies we show high WNS prevalence in European bats. Moreover, Palearctic bat communities tolerate similar fungal loads of Pseudogymnoascus destructans infection as their Nearctic counterparts and histopathology indicates equal focal skin tissue invasiveness pathognomonic for WNS lesions. Fungal load positively correlates with disease intensity and it reaches highest values at intermediate latitudes. Our data provides evidence for both endemicity and tolerance to this persistent virulent fungus in the Palearctic, suggesting that host-pathogen interaction equilibrium has been established. Another important result addressing surveillance of the distribution of WNS is that ethanol-stored ectoparasites can be used to identify the historic presence of pathogens in bat populations as well as in understudied geographical regions. Importantly, pathogenic and non-pathogenic related microorganisms differ in secondary metabolite production. P. destructans isolates overproduce riboflavin and this vitamin hyperaccumulates in bat´s skin lesions. We found that high riboflavin concentrations are cytotoxic under conditions specific for hibernation, affect bats’ primary fibroblasts and induce cell detachment, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, polymerization of cortical actin, and cell necrosis. Our results explain molecular pathology of WNS, where a skin infection becomes fatal. Likewise, occurrence of WNS in distantly related bat species with diverse ecology suggests, that the pathogen may be a generalist and that all bats hibernating within the distribution range of P. destructans may be at risk of infection. Our findings indicate that a wider and interdisciplinary focus is needed in studying the ecology and epidemiology of this fungal disease of major conservation concern. |