European Observations of Fungi on Bats Paul Cryan 1 and David Blehert 2 1 USGS Fort Collins Science Center 2 USGS National Wildlife Health Center

Meeting on WNS at the 1 st International Symposium on Bat Migration, Berlin, Germany - January 2009 Photo courtesy of Christian Voigt, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research

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

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

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

Similarity of European and North American Fungi Sampled from Bats 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 Photo courtesy of: Ludwig E. Hoelzle, University of Zurich Fabio Bontadina, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Conservation Biology, Bern, Switzerland Photo courtesy of USGS National Wildlife Health Center *curved conidia: Gargas et al. 2009

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)

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.

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, Prague Jiri Gaisler, Tomas Bartonicka Investigating Fungi Associated with Bats in Europe