White Nose Syndrome

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Pseudogymnoascus destructans, previously known as Geomyces destructans, is a fungal pathogen that causes the disease known as White nose syndrome (WNS)¹.  P. destructans is a psychrophilic (cold-growing) ascomycete with an optimal growth range of 12.5–15.8°C².  This fungus, whose preferable food source is a supply of fats, is often fatal to hibernating North American bats. Evidence of the fungus’ arrival in the United States was first documented in a photograph taken at Howes Cave, 52 km west of Albany, NY during the winter of 2006³.

¹Foley et al 2010, Verant et al 2012
²Verant et al 2012, Johnson et al 2013, Hoyt et al 2015, Gargas et al. 2009
³Gargas et al. 2009