This work is part of an experimental trial investigating the effects of microclimate conditions of temperature and humidity on a fungal pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS) disease in hibernating bats. As part of the trial, tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were exposed to Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) and allowed to hibernate in chambers with a variety of temperature and humidity conditions. Bats were euthanized after 83 days. A portion of the wing was rolled around dental wax dowels, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, processed and stained with periodic acid-Schiff, and assessed by light microscopy for evidence of fungal infection. Three types of cutaneous infection were described histologically, including characteristic WNS cupping erosions, neutrophilic pustules with fungal hyphae, and fungal hyphae in the stratum corneum with dermal necrosis. Bats with any of these three conditions were scored as WNS-positive by histology. Only 11% (10/95) of bats scored as positive by histology. Of the 10 bats scored as positive, 3 bats had cupping erosions containing fungal hyphae and 7 bats had either neutrophilic pustules containing fungal hyphae, dermal necrosis associated with intra-epidermal fungal hyphae, or both. Overall, lack of infection and disease outcomes in this experiment limited our ability to make robust conclusions about the influence of microclimates on the development of WNS in bats.

This dataset includes data used to summarize trends and identify best-fit models to explain patterns in presence-absence and abundance of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) in environmental substrates and on bats within six bat hibernacula at different stages of white-nose syndrome (WNS). Data relating to environmental substrates include: dates and relative spatial locations of samples collected within study hibernacula, presence and quantity of Pd in samples based on qPCR analysis, and daily temperature parameters at each sample location on the days samples were collected. Data relating to bats include: dates and relative spatial locations of hibernating bats that were sampled, species, sex, weight(g), forearm length(mm), body mass index (weight/forearm), proportion of the wing with visible fungus or fluorescence characteristic of WNS under hand-held UVA light and presence and quantity of Pd in wing-skin swab samples based on qPCR analysis. Measures of time since first detection of WNS at each study hibernaculum are also included in the dataset.

This dataset includes data used to summarize trends and identify best-fit models to explain patterns in presence-absence and abundance of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) in environmental substrates and on bats within six bat hibernacula at different stages of white-nose syndrome (WNS). Data relating to environmental substrates include: dates and relative spatial locations of samples collected within study hibernacula, presence and quantity of Pd in samples based on qPCR analysis, and daily temperature parameters at each sample location on the days samples were collected. Data relating to bats include: dates and relative spatial locations of hibernating bats that were sampled, species, sex, weight(g), forearm length(mm), body mass index (weight/forearm), proportion of the wing with visible fungus or fluorescence characteristic of WNS under hand-held UVA light and presence and quantity of Pd in wing-skin swab samples based on qPCR analysis. Measures of time since first detection of WNS at each study hibernaculum are also included in the dataset.

This work is part of a study investigating the movement of microcystin from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems via trophic transfer. Little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), feeding opportunistically on aquatic insects including Hexagenia mayflies, were collected from a maternity roost near Little Traverse Lake (Leelanau County, Michigan, USA). Bats and fecal samples were collected for dietary analysis, quantification of microcystin in livers and feces, and histopathological evaluation of the liver. Liver was collected in RNAlater and stored frozen. Livers from three bats with the highest microcystin levels by ELISA were thawed, washed with PBS, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, processed routinely for histopathology, and assessed by light microscopy. Microscopic lesions included centrilobular congestion, periportal to midzonal hepatocellular vacuolation, and low numbers of portal inflammatory cells. These changes are non-specific; no evidence of acute microcystin toxicosis was present. Results suggest that despite the detection of microcystin in bat feces from the site, there is no evidence of acute clinical toxicity in the bats collected.

White-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that has caused catastrophic population declines of bats in eastern North America, is rapidly spreading across the continent and now threatens previously unexposed bat species in western North America. The causal agent of WNS, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, can infect many species of hibernating bats, but susceptibility to WNS varies by host species. Predicting which western bat species will be most susceptible to WNS would be of great value for establishing conservation priorities. We previously reported that certain traits of the skin microbiome of bat species in eastern North America were strongly associated with tolerance to WNS. Using these traits, we developed a model to predict WNS susceptibility of 13 species of western North American bats. Based on the model, only two bat species, Myotis velifer and Eptesicus fuscus, were predicted to be WNS-tolerant. If accurate, a greater proportion of western bat species will be susceptible to the disease compared to eastern bat species, indicating that WNS may pose a significant conservation threat in western North America.

White-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that has caused catastrophic population declines of bats in eastern North America, is rapidly spreading across the continent and now threatens previously unexposed bat species in western North America. The causal agent of WNS, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, can infect many species of hibernating bats, but susceptibility to WNS varies by host species. Predicting which western bat species will be most susceptible to WNS would be of great value for establishing conservation priorities. We previously reported that certain traits of the skin microbiome of bat species in eastern North America were strongly associated with tolerance to WNS. Using these traits, we developed a model to predict WNS susceptibility of 13 species of western North American bats. Based on the model, only two bat species, Myotis velifer and Eptesicus fuscus, were predicted to be WNS-tolerant. If accurate, a greater proportion of western bat species will be susceptible to the disease compared to eastern bat species, indicating that WNS may pose a significant conservation threat in western North America.

North American bats have experienced catastrophic population declines from white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). Although Pd can infect many hibernating bat species, population-level impacts of WNS vary by host species. Microbial skin assemblages, including the fungal component (mycobiome), can influence host resistance to infectious diseases; however, little is known about the influence the skin mycobiome of bats may have on susceptibility to WNS. We sampled ten bat species in the eastern United States that are known to be either susceptible, tolerant, or resistant to WNS by swabbing their wing skin. We then cultured fungi from the swabs, isolated morphologically distinct colonies of fungi, and identified the fungi through DNA sequencing. Using this culture-based approach, we compared skin mycobiome characteristics. The mycobiomes of WNS-susceptible bat species had significantly lower alpha diversity and abundance compared to WNS-tolerant species. Overall mycobiome structure did not vary based on WNS-susceptibility, but several yeast species were differentially abundant on WNS-tolerant bat species. Multi-locus phylogenies and scanning electron microscopy suggest that some yeasts likely represent novel taxa which may be adapted to colonizing bat skin. Further exploration of interactions between Pd and components of the mycobiome may prove useful for predicting susceptibility of bat populations and for developing effective mitigation strategies for WNS.

North American bats have experienced catastrophic population declines from white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). Although Pd can infect many hibernating bat species, population-level impacts of WNS vary by host species. Microbial skin assemblages, including the fungal component (mycobiome), can influence host resistance to infectious diseases; however, little is known about the influence the skin mycobiome of bats may have on susceptibility to WNS. We sampled ten bat species in the eastern United States that are known to be either susceptible, tolerant, or resistant to WNS by swabbing their wing skin. We then cultured fungi from the swabs, isolated morphologically distinct colonies of fungi, and identified the fungi through DNA sequencing. Using this culture-based approach, we compared skin mycobiome characteristics. The mycobiomes of WNS-susceptible bat species had significantly lower alpha diversity and abundance compared to WNS-tolerant species. Overall mycobiome structure did not vary based on WNS-susceptibility, but several yeast species were differentially abundant on WNS-tolerant bat species. Multi-locus phylogenies and scanning electron microscopy suggest that some yeasts likely represent novel taxa which may be adapted to colonizing bat skin. Further exploration of interactions between Pd and components of the mycobiome may prove useful for predicting susceptibility of bat populations and for developing effective mitigation strategies for WNS.

This data documents the results of sampling for the white-nose syndrome fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center between 2007-2022. Data are reported on the county level. Locations are accurate to county only. We used data collected at winter locations only (hibernaculum) for this data set.

This data represents the number of positive and negative Pd (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) detections by county over the sampling period 2008-2012. Pd is the fungus that is the causative agent of white-nose syndrome.