White nose syndrome

The White-Nose Syndrome ( WNS; German referred to as " White Nose Syndrome" or " white nose disease ") is a closely related to the fungal Pseudogymnoascus destructans (formerly Geomyces destructans called ) -related fungal infection that affects several species of bats and mass extinction leads. It was first found in the northeastern United States in 2006 and spread from there ever since. Until the end of 2011 she noticed already over 5.7 million animals for sacrifice.

Discovery

First observations of White-Nose Syndrome are from February 2006. Infected animals were used as a hibernation site caves west of Albany ( New York) found. In the following winters, the affected area enlarged; currently (March 2010) it ranges from New Hampshire to Tennessee, mainly west of the main ridge of the Allegheny Mountains. In March 2010, an initial report from Canada on an affected bat colony in space Bancroft (Ontario) was known.

Features

The disease affects several species of bats hibernating in caves ( members of the genera Myotis and Pipistrellus ). Dead or dying animals often show white fungal growth especially in the nose region, and sometimes in other parts of the body such as the ears or the flight skins. Since the diseased animals are underweight, they lack the necessary thereafter for hibernation and survival of fat reserves.

Causes

Closely associated with the disease is the belonging to a genus of soil-inhabiting fungi, in 2008 newly described species Pseudogymnoascus destructans. This species is characterized by adaptation to cool conditions ( Psychrophilie ). However, as discovered in the affected caves dead animals do not always wear visible signs of fungus, has long been unclear whether the fungus may not be the primary cause, but a symptom of another, unexplained cause of the mass extinction. Of 2011, however, scientists for the first time to determine the fungus directly as the cause of White-Nose Syndrome.

In the caves, where the disease was first detected, the bat population has since decreased over 90%. The type Myotis sodalis whose few main wintering areas are already infested particularly vulnerable to the spread of White-Nose Syndrome currently appears. However, it is feared that even common species, such as the Little Brown Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis lucifugus ) are regionally completely disappear.

Due to the infection in North America sensitized with Pseudogymnoascus were found since 2009 in several European countries ( Germany, Austria, Hungary, France ) clearly destructans infected bats. However, these were living and had no negative weight on. From the wide area of ​​distribution of the fungus in Europe, it is concluded that the fungus is common here for some time and apparently for European bats present any danger.

From the previously discussed three scenarios:

• Pseudogymnoascus destructans has now been introduced from America to Europe.
• Pseudogymnoascus destructans is native to Europe, but where it leads to no mass extinction because local bat species - unlike in North America where the fungus was deported from Europe - are immune.
• Pseudogymnoascus destructans is an opportunistic pathogen and infects already weakened by other causes animals ( see also above).

Was disproved the first and third scenario with the current findings and the second confirmed.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service ( USFWS ) calls on all cavers to refrain from the commission of caves in the affected and adjacent states, so as not to promote disease transmission and not to disturb the bats in addition. At an international symposium in Little Rock / Arkansas the USFWS on 19 May 2011 announced an action plan to stop the further spread of White-Nose Syndrome.