Clonal Genotype of Geomyces destructans | CDC EID

Clonal Genotype of Geomyces destructans | CDC EID: "EID Journal Home > Volume 17, Number 7–July 2011

Volume 17, Number 7–July 2011
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Clonal Genotype of Geomyces destructans among Bats with White Nose Syndrome, New York, USA

Sunanda S. Rajkumar, Xiaojiang Li, Robert J. Rudd, Joseph C. Okoniewski, Jianping Xu, Sudha Chaturvedi, and Vishnu Chaturvedi Comments to Author
Author affiliations: New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA (S.S. Rajkumar, X. Li, R.J. Rudd, S. Chaturvedi, V. Chaturvedi); New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany (J.C. Okoniewski); McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (J. Xu); and State University of New York at Albany, Albany (S. Chaturvedi, V. Chaturvedi)

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Abstract
The dispersal mechanism of Geomyces destructans, which causes geomycosis (white nose syndrome) in hibernating bats, remains unknown. Multiple gene genealogic analyses were conducted on 16 fungal isolates from diverse sites in New York State during 2008–2010. The results are consistent with the clonal dispersal of a single G. destructans genotype.

Geomycosis, or white nose syndrome, is a newly recognized fungal infection of hibernating bats. The etiologic agent, the psychrophilic fungus Geomyces destructans, was first recognized in caves and mines around Albany, New York, USA (1,2). The disease has spread rapidly in New York and other states in the northeastern United States. At least 1 affected bat species is predicted to face regional extinction in the near future (3). Much remains unknown about this fungus, including its ecology and geographic distribution. For example, although hibernacula are high on the list of suspected sites, where the bats acquire this infection is not known. Similarly, although strongly suspected, the role of humans and other animals in the dispersal of G. destructans and the effect of such dispersals in bat infections have not been confirmed. We recently showed that 6 G. destructans strains from sites near Albany were genetically similar (2), raising the possibility of a common source for the spread of this infection. Corollary to this observation and other opinions (3,4), the US Fish & Wildlife Service has made an administrative decision to bar human access to caves as a precautionary measure (www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/pdf/NWRS_WNS_Guidance_Final1.pdf). Thus, an understanding of the dispersal mechanism of G. destructans is urgently needed to formulate effective strategies to control bat geomycosis.

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Suggested Citation for this Article

Rajkuma SS, Li X, Rudd RJ, Okoniewski JC, Xu J, Chaturvedi S, et al. Clonal genotype of Geomyces destructans among bats with white nose syndrome, New York, USA. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Jul [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/7/1273.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1707.102056

Comments to the Authors

Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Vishnu Chaturvedi, Mycology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 120 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA; email: vishnu@wadsworth.org