Title
First Isolation of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the Fungal Causative Agent of White-Nose Disease, in Bats from Italy
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Publisher
Springer
Publication Date
August 2019
Abstract
White-nose disease, caused by the dermatophyte Pseudogymnoascus destructans, is a devastating pathology that has caused a massive decline in the US bat populations. In Europe, this fungus and the related infection in bats have been recorded in several countries and for many bat species, although no mass mortality has been detected. This study reports for the first time the presence of P. destructans in Italy. The fungus was isolated in the Rio Martino cave, a site located in the Western Alps and included in the Natura 2000 network. Twenty bats, belonging to five different species, were analysed. The fungus was retrieved on eight individuals of Myotis emarginatus. The allied keratolytic species P. pannorum was observed on two other individuals, also belonging to M. emarginatus. Strains were isolated in pure culture and characterized morphologically. Results were validated through molecular analyses. Future work should be dedicated to understand the distribution and the effects of the two Pseudogymnoascus species on Italian bats.
Keywords
Geomyces Destructans, Myotis Emarginatus, Pseudogymnoascus Pannorum, White-Nose Syndrome
Description
1 online resource
Subject: topical
Geomyces Destructans; Myotis Emarginatus; Pseudogymnoascus Pannorum; White-Nose Syndrome
Type
Article
Genre
Serial publications
Identifier
SFS0071843_00001
Recommended Citation
Garzoli, L.; Riccucci, M.; Patriarca, E.; Debernardi; Boggero, A.; Pecoraro, L.; and Picco, A. M., "First Isolation of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the Fungal Causative Agent of White-Nose Disease, in Bats from Italy" (2019). KIP Articles. 2050.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/2050