Abstract
The development of new C-320 electronic-nose (e-nose) methods for pre-symptomatic detection of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in bats has required efficacy studies of instrument capabilities to discriminate between major sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) derived from clinical samples. In this phase-2 study, we further tested this e-nose for capabilities to distinguish between bat species based on differences in whole-body VOC emissions. Live healthy individuals of nine bat species were temporarily captured outside of caves in Arkansas and Louisiana. VOC emissions from bats were collected using newly developed portable air collection and sampling-chamber devices in tandem. Sensor-array output responses to bat VOC emissions were compared to those of 22 pure VOC analytical standards from five chemical classes. Distinct smellprint signatures were produced from e-nose analyses of VOC metabolites derived from individual bat species. Smellprint patterns were analyzed using 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to produce aroma map plots showing effective discrimination between bat species with high statistical significance. These results demonstrate potential instrument efficacy for distinguishing between species-specific, bat-derived VOC metabolite emissions as major components of clinical samples collected from bats in caves for disease detection prior to symptom development. This study provided additional information required to fully test the efficacy of a portable e-nose instrument for diagnostic applications in subsequent phase-3 testing of noninvasive, early WNS disease detection in intra-cave hibernating bats.
Highlights
A relatively new disease of Nearctic cave-dwelling bats species, known as White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), first appeared in North American bat populations within caves in New York State in 2006 [1].This infectious disease is responsible for the reduction of up to 75–99% of bat populations in many winter hibernacula within the eastern half of the continent over the past thirteen years [2,3]
Each sensor in the 32-sensor array is cross-reactive with different levels of sensitivity to specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) depending on their chemical class, relative abundance, and relative composition within the sample
We have determined in this phase-2 study that different healthy bat species produce and release distinct, complex mixtures of normal, healthy-state VOC metabolites which reflect significant compositional differences in VOC profiles
Summary
A relatively new disease of Nearctic cave-dwelling bats species, known as White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), first appeared in North American bat populations within caves in New York State in 2006 [1]. This infectious disease is responsible for the reduction of up to 75–99% of bat populations in many winter hibernacula within the eastern half of the continent over the past thirteen years [2,3]. Conservation of insectivorous North American bat species affected by WNS has implications for both agriculture and human health These small, night-feeding bats consume many costly cropand tree-insect pests that annually cause millions of dollars in economic losses in the United States and Canada. A wide diversity of mosquito species, consumed by small insectivorous bats, are responsible for the transmission of zoonotic viral pathogens, such as West Nile Virus (WNV) and other arboviruses, carrying them to amplifying bird hosts, other animal reservoirs, and to humans [13,14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
