This data documents the results of sampling for the white-nose syndrome fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center between 2013-2020. 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 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.

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.

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.

Reported here are the fluorescence data points recorded from CRISPR/Cas12a biosensor assays to detect the presence or absence of DNA from Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the causative fungal agent of white-nose syndrome in bats, from artificial controls, dermal swab, and guano samples. Ct values from qPCR experiments are also provided in a table. Furthermore, we also provide the GenBank accession numbers used to develop the aforementioned CRISPR/Cas12a biosensor assay for Pd DNA detection.

This csv contains spatio-temporal predictions for the year of white-nose syndrome/Pseudogymnoascus destructans in support of the manuscript "Gaussian process forecasts Pseudogymnoascus destructans will cover coterminous United States by 2030." Gaussian process models were fitted to monitoring data on the spread of white-nose syndrome in North America from 2007-2022. These models are used to make predictions on a fine spatial grid, giving a forecast (and hindcast) of the spread of white-nose syndrome at any location. The code relies on the GRTS grid for model prediction, which is publicly accessible at https://doi.org/10.5066/p9o75ydv.

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 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.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emergent disease estimated to have killed over five million North American bats. Caused by the psychrophilic fungus Geomyces destructans, WNS specifically affects bats during hibernation. We describe temperature-dependent growth performance and morphology for six independent isolates of G. destructans from North America and Europe. Thermal performance curves for all isolates displayed an intermediate peak with rapid decline in performance above the peak. Optimal temperatures for growth were between 12.5 and 15.8 degrees C, and the upper critical temperature for growth was between 19.0 and 19.8 degrees C. Growth rates varied across isolates, irrespective of geographic origin, and above 12 degrees C all isolates displayed atypical morphology that may have implications for proliferation of the fungus. This study demonstrates that small variations in temperature, consistent with those inherent of bat hibernacula, affect growth performance and physiology of G. destructans, which may influence temperature-dependent progression and severity of WNS in wild bats.