WNS Summer Surveillance: DATA

Bats occupying hibernacula during summer months may play an important role in the epidemiology of white-nose syndrome (WNS). For example, bats exposed to viable Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the causative agent of WNS, in late summer could spread the fungus by transmitting it to other bats or to other locations suitable for establishment of new environmental reservoirs. To explore risks for transmission of Pd during the non-hibernal season, we screened bats using hibernacula between July 18 to August 22, 2012 and associated environmental samples for presence of Pd. Study sites within the eastern United States included six hibernacula known to harbor Pd and two hibernacula in which bats with WNS had not been previously observed. Standard demographic and morphometric data were recorded for bats captured from inside each study site. Sample types evaluated for the presence of Pd included bat wing swabs, guano pellets from individual bats, swabs of hibernaculum walls, and sediments from the hibernaculum floor. Additionally, swabs of various trapping and processing equipment and clothing worn into study sites were evaluated for the presence of Pd.夏季栖息于冬眠洞穴（hibernacula）的蝙蝠，可能在白鼻综合征（white-nose syndrome, WNS）的流行病学传播中发挥重要作用。例如，若蝙蝠在夏末接触到具有活性的白鼻综合征致病菌——破坏假裸囊菌（Pseudogymnoascus destructans, Pd），则可通过将该真菌传播至其他蝙蝠，或传播至适宜形成新环境储存库的其他地点，从而实现真菌的扩散。为探究非冬眠季Pd的传播风险，本研究于2012年7月18日至8月22日期间，针对栖息于冬眠洞穴的蝙蝠及其相关环境样本开展Pd检测筛查。美国东部的研究样地包括6个已知存在Pd的冬眠洞穴，以及2个此前未观测到感染WNS蝙蝠的冬眠洞穴。研究人员记录了从各研究样地内捕获的蝙蝠的标准种群统计与形态测量数据。本研究针对以下样本类型开展Pd检测：蝙蝠翼膜拭子、单只蝙蝠的粪粒、冬眠洞穴内壁拭子，以及冬眠洞穴地面沉积物。此外，本研究还对各类捕获设备、样本处理设备以及带入研究样地的衣物进行拭子采样，以检测Pd的存在。