European Observations of Fungi on Bats

1. European Observations of Fungi on Bats Paul Cryan1 and David Blehert2 1USGS Fort Collins Science Center 2USGS National Wildlife Health Center

2. Meeting on WNS at the1st International Symposium on Bat Migration, Berlin, Germany - January 2009 Photo courtesy of Christian Voigt, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research

3. Reports at Berlin Meeting • Bats with fungal growth: • Observations mostly from past few years, but literature records from at least 1983 in Germany • No associated mass mortality observed • Usually species of Myotis • Roosts tend to be very humid • White growth most apparent in late winter • White fuzz disappears from bats taken out of hibernacula and bats quickly groom it off after arousing from hibernation

4. Winter 2009: European Countries where Bats with White Noses have Been Reported (Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, France) Map: Paul Cryan

5. WNS: A European Connection? Hungary Switzerland Photo: Tamas Gorfol Netherlands Romania Photo: Szilard Bucs Photo: Anne Jifke-Haarsma

6. Microscopic images show that some fungi sampled from bats in Europe have same unique* morphology as Geomyces destructans Preliminary and limited genetic analyses suggest that certain European fungal isolates from bats may also be G. destructans Similarity of European and North American Fungi Sampled from Bats Photo courtesy of USGS National Wildlife Health Center Photo courtesy of: Ludwig E. Hoelzle, University of Zurich Fabio Bontadina, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Conservation Biology, Bern, Switzerland *curved conidia: Gargas et al. 2009

7. If Geomyces destructans Occurs in Europe, Why No Mortality? • Hibernating groups of bats in Europe tend to be much smaller than eastern North America • Density dependence of disease transmission or behavioral links to mortality (e.g., disturbance of roost mates during excessive grooming)? • Past exposure of populations (resistance)? • Something in cave ecosystems may limit its virulence in Europe (hypovirulence)

8. Why the European Connection is Important • Understanding the epidemiology of WNS in North America…is Geomyces destructans an invasive/exotic species? • If the Geomyces destructans is endemic to Europe, evidence for past exposure of surviving bats on that continent may be telling of what is to come for bats in North America. • If Geomyces destructans does not already occur in caves and mines of Europe where bats hibernate, we want to make sure that it stays that way.

9. Investigating Fungi Associated with Bats in Europe • Germany • Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research: Gudrun Wibbelt • Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie:Hans-Peter Seid • Switzerland • Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Conservation Biology, Bern, Switzerland:Fabio Bontadina • Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Zurich:Ludwig E. Hoelzle • Netherlands • CBS Fungal Biodiversity Centre:Professor de Hoog • Dutch Wildlife Health Centre • Universiteit Leiden:Anne-Jifke Haarsma • Dutch Mammal Society:Erik Korsten • United Kingdom • Zoological Society of London/Institute of Zoology:Kate Jones, Andrew Cunningham, Trent Garner • Bat Conservation Trust:Amy Coyte, Kate Barlow, Sarah Ford • UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:Matt Hartley • Natural England:Tony Mitchell-Jones • EUROBATS:Tony Hutson • Italy • Gruppo Italiano Ricerca Chirotteri:Marco Riccucci • Università degli Studi di Torino:Giovanna Cristina Varese • Romania • Babes-Bolyai University:Szilárd Bücs • Hungary • Tolna County Nature Conservation Foundation:Tamás Görföl • Czech Republic • Czech Bat Conservation Trust, National Museum, PragueJiri Gaisler, Tomas Bartonicka