title: Pan-European distribution of white-nose syndrome fungus (Geomyces destructans) not associated with mass mortality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dramatic mass mortalities amongst hibernating bats in Northeastern America caused by "white nose-syndrome" (WNS) continue to threaten populations of different bat species. The cold-loving fungus, Geomyces destructans, is the most likely causative agent leading to extensive destruction of the skin, particularly the wing membranes. Recent investigations in Europe confirmed the presence of the fungus G. destructans without associated mass mortality in hibernating bats in six countries but its distribution remains poorly known.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We collected data on the presence of bats with white fungal growth in 12 countries in Europe between 2003 and 2010 and conducted morphological and genetic analysis to confirm the identity of the fungus as Geomyces destructans. Our results demonstrate the presence of the fungus in eight countries spanning over 2000 km from West to East and provide compelling photographic evidence for its presence in another four countries including Romania, and Turkey. Furthermore, matching prevalence data of a hibernaculum monitored over two consecutive years with data from across Europe show that the temporal occurrence of the fungus, which first becomes visible around February, peaks in March but can still be seen in some torpid bats in May or June, is strikingly similar throughout Europe. Finally, we isolated and cultured G. destructans from a cave wall adjacent to a bat with fungal growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  G. destructans is widely found over large areas of the European continent without associated mass mortalities in bats, suggesting that the fungus is native to Europe. The characterisation of the temporal variation in G. destructans growth on bats provides reference data for studying the spatio-temporal dynamic of the fungus. Finally, the presence of G. destructans spores on cave walls suggests that hibernacula could act as passive vectors and/or reservoirs for G. destructans and therefore, might play an important role in the transmission process.
authors.affiliation: School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. s.puechmaille@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sébastien J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Puechmaille
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wibbelt
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Korn
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forget
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mühldorfer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.forename: Wieslaw
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bogdanowicz
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.forename: Thijs
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cherezy
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drebet
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Görföl
authors.forename: Anne-Jifke
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Haarsma
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Herhaus
authors.forename: Guénael
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hallart
authors.forename: Matthias
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authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jungmann
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le Bris
authors.forename: Lauri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lutsar
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masing
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mulkens
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Passior
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Starrach
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wojtaszewski
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zöphel
authors.forename: Emma C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Teeling
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas; D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D005060:Europe; D006605:Hibernation; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012621:Seasons