TITLE:
Is Bat Guano a Reservoir of Geomyces destructans?
AUTHORS:
Janez Mulec, Elizabeth Covington, Julia Walochnik
KEYWORDS:
Geomyces destructans; Bat Guano; Cave; Slovenia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine,
Vol.3 No.2,
June
6,
2013
ABSTRACT: Bat guano from six
different karst caves in Slovenia was screened by PCR for the presence of Geomyces destructans [1]. Two identical DNA sequences from guano heaps in
two of the caves with recent bat droppings were retrieved. These sequences were
closely related to several unidentified Geomyces clones and to
pathogenic G. destructans, but definitive identification remained
elusive. Despite the presence of Geomyces species, thus far there has
been no report of Whitenose syndrome (WNS) symptoms in bats in Slovenia.
Overall physical and chemical conditions in guano, particularly in large guano
heaps, offer a suitable environment which might serve as a reservoir for
pathogenic Geomyces strains and could represent a permanent reservoir
for in situ infection of bats. Screening of guano and analysis of
more data related to guano ecology could lend clues to control WNS outbreaks
and mortality linked to G. destructans.