Does Europe Hold the Key to WNS?
An article by David DeFranza appearing a treehugger.com, European Bats Resistant to Deadly Fungus, discusses reports indicating that European bats are more resistant to white nose syndrome (WNS) than North American bats.
Currently, reports from eight countries in Europe have described bats with white mold on their wings and muzzles and four countries—Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, and France—have identified the mold as Geomyces destructans. Despite the presence of the fungus, however, bats in these countries remain healthy.
Complicating matters further is a 1983 report that includes a photograph of a bat in Germany with a “powdery white substance around its muzzle.” It goes on to say that several such bats were observed in caves during surveys. If it is, in fact, Geomyces destructans it means that European bats had been contending with the fungus for at least 23 years before it made its first appearance in the United States.
This is some uplifting news on the WNS front, when there has been pretty much only bad news in recent months. It is possible that genetic and immunological analysis and comparison of European and North American bats could point to a solution such as a treatment or even a vaccine.
No signs of WNS on these "happy" bats (Justin Lindsay)
Tags: bats, Europe, Geomyces destructans, WNS
