@article{3dc5af6df0f5413cb0bfbc4d19af8452,
title = "Experimental inoculation trial to determine the effects of temperature and humidity on White-nose Syndrome in hibernating bats",
abstract = "Disease results from interactions among the host, pathogen, and environment. Inoculation trials can quantify interactions among these players and explain aspects of disease ecology to inform management in variable and dynamic natural environments. White-nose Syndrome, a disease caused by the fungal pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), has caused severe population declines of several bat species in North America. We conducted the first experimental infection trial on the tri-colored bat, Perimyotis subflavus, to test the effect of temperature and humidity on disease severity. We also tested the effects of temperature and humidity on fungal growth and persistence on substrates. Unexpectedly, only 37% (35/95) of bats experimentally inoculated with Pd at the start of the experiment showed any infection response or disease symptoms after 83 days of captive hibernation. There was no evidence that temperature or humidity influenced infection response. Temperature had a strong effect on fungal growth on media plates, but the influence of humidity was more variable and uncertain. Designing laboratory studies to maximize research outcomes would be beneficial given the high costs of such efforts and potential for unexpected outcomes. Understanding the influence of microclimates on host–pathogen interactions remains an important consideration for managing wildlife diseases, particularly in variable environments.",
author = "Frick, {Winifred F.} and Emily Johnson and Cheng, {Tina L.} and Lankton, {Julia S.} and Robin Warne and Jason Dallas and Parise, {Katy L.} and Foster, {Jeffrey T.} and Boyles, {Justin G.} and McGuire, {Liam P.}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank several reviewers for comments that improved the manuscript. Gabe Reyes with U.S. Geological Survey provided insightful review of an earlier version. We thank Karen Vanderwolf at Trent University for providing samples of P. destructans for our experiment, and for helpful advice throughout the culturing process. Thanks to John Zak for advice and experience working with growing fungus and Carol Meteyer for advice on histological examination. We thank Paul Heady, Kathy Shelton, and the Mississippi Bat Working Group for assistance in the field. Maintaining bats in captivity would not have been possible without assistance from Emma Kunkel, Samantha Garcia, Jeff Clerc, Beth Rogers, Brett Andersen, Nate Fuller, Kirk Silas, Chris Long, William Barela, and TTU Animal Care staff. This research was supported by a Bats for the Future Fund award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional funding was provided by Bat Conservation International and Texas Tech University. The use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",
year = "2022",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1038/s41598-022-04965-x",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "12",
journal = "Scientific Reports",
issn = "2045-2322",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
number = "1",
}