Bats are often misconstrued as frightening and dangerous in modern society due to myths and superstitions; however, in reality, bats play an important role in many ecosystem processes and the world's economy (Bat Conservation Trust, n.d.). For instance, it is estimated that bats save approximately $3.7 to $53 billion annually in the agriculture industry by reducing the need for insecticide applications (Boyles et al., 2011). Unfortunately, hibernating bat populations are dwindling rapidly in North America due to White Nose Syndrome (WNS): a disease caused by a pathogenic fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, introduced from Europe (Figure 1) (Reichard & Kunz, 2009). Since its initial discovery in New York in 2006, approximately 6.7 billion hibernating bats have died in the United-States and Canada (COSEWIC, 2013).
WNS does not kill bats directly; instead, the fungus presents itself as white growth around the nasal region and wing membranes of bats, causing irritation and frequent arousals during hibernation (Figure 2) (Reichard & Kunz, 2009). Since their metabolisms increase when awake, affected bats burn through their fat stores prematurely, resulting in death from starvation and exposure to cold temperatures (COSEWIC, 2013). This disease is transmitted through physical contact with affected individuals or surfaces, and is known to kill 90-100% of individuals of a population within a hibernacula (White Nose Syndrome Response Team A, n.d.).
Although there is currently no cure for WNS, researchers have been developing various treatment methods that could potentially prevent or stop the spread of WNS. Biological controls, such as probiotics derived from bacteria naturally found on bats, can be applied directly to individuals to stimulate the growth of microorganisms that attack or limit the growth of P. destructans (White Nose Syndrome Response Team B, n.d.). Chemical controls on the other hand can be applied to hibernacula surfaces to prevent, control, or eliminate P. destructans (White Nose Syndrome Response Team B, n.d.). Lastly, immunological controls, a vaccine in this case, can be ingested or applied topically to prevent WNS (White Nose Syndrome Response Team B, n.d.)
In this study, we will be examining five possible treatment options under three different temperatures (2°C, 5°C, and 10°C) in a lab setting. We will be testing three biological controls (two strains of Pseudomonas spp bacteria and chitosan) and two chemical controls (B23 and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000). The two strains of bacteria are closely related to Pseudomonas fluorescens and were isolated from a Big Brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, (PF1) and a Little Brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, (PF2). Due to our setting, we were unable to test for the vaccine as this would require live bats. Our research objectives are 1) to determine the inhibition and regrowth percentage of the different biological and chemical treatments on P. destructans and 2) to determine the most effective temperature for treatment to reduce the growth of P. destructans.
Our expectation is that PF1 will be the most effective treatment against P. destructans as it showed strong inhibition properties in Hoyt et al. (2015). As for the other treatments, few studies have analyzed their effectiveness at varying temperatures; therefore, we are uncertain of the differences in effectiveness amongst the other treatments. Our final results will ultimately provide us with the data needed to achieve our research objectives and form a proposal to combat WNS in Canada.
WNS does not kill bats directly; instead, the fungus presents itself as white growth around the nasal region and wing membranes of bats, causing irritation and frequent arousals during hibernation (Figure 2) (Reichard & Kunz, 2009). Since their metabolisms increase when awake, affected bats burn through their fat stores prematurely, resulting in death from starvation and exposure to cold temperatures (COSEWIC, 2013). This disease is transmitted through physical contact with affected individuals or surfaces, and is known to kill 90-100% of individuals of a population within a hibernacula (White Nose Syndrome Response Team A, n.d.).
Although there is currently no cure for WNS, researchers have been developing various treatment methods that could potentially prevent or stop the spread of WNS. Biological controls, such as probiotics derived from bacteria naturally found on bats, can be applied directly to individuals to stimulate the growth of microorganisms that attack or limit the growth of P. destructans (White Nose Syndrome Response Team B, n.d.). Chemical controls on the other hand can be applied to hibernacula surfaces to prevent, control, or eliminate P. destructans (White Nose Syndrome Response Team B, n.d.). Lastly, immunological controls, a vaccine in this case, can be ingested or applied topically to prevent WNS (White Nose Syndrome Response Team B, n.d.)
In this study, we will be examining five possible treatment options under three different temperatures (2°C, 5°C, and 10°C) in a lab setting. We will be testing three biological controls (two strains of Pseudomonas spp bacteria and chitosan) and two chemical controls (B23 and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000). The two strains of bacteria are closely related to Pseudomonas fluorescens and were isolated from a Big Brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, (PF1) and a Little Brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, (PF2). Due to our setting, we were unable to test for the vaccine as this would require live bats. Our research objectives are 1) to determine the inhibition and regrowth percentage of the different biological and chemical treatments on P. destructans and 2) to determine the most effective temperature for treatment to reduce the growth of P. destructans.
Our expectation is that PF1 will be the most effective treatment against P. destructans as it showed strong inhibition properties in Hoyt et al. (2015). As for the other treatments, few studies have analyzed their effectiveness at varying temperatures; therefore, we are uncertain of the differences in effectiveness amongst the other treatments. Our final results will ultimately provide us with the data needed to achieve our research objectives and form a proposal to combat WNS in Canada.
Figure 1. A map depicting the spread of WNS in North America since its initial discovery in New York in 2006. (White Nose Syndrome Response Team, n.d.). Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/yxd85o2k
Figure 2. The wing membrane (left) and snout (right) of a bat infected with WNS. (Northern Woodlands, 2010). Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/y27nb94g