Examination of bats in western Oklahoma for antibodies againstPseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of White-Nose Syndrome

Abstract

This is the first investigation to determine if bats from western Oklahoma have antibodies against Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the causative agent of White-nose syndrome in bats. The bats examined came from caves near the western most locality in the United States where a bat suspected of having Pd had been reported. A total of fifty-one serum samples were obtained from cave myotis (Myotis velifer), big brown (Eptesicus fuscus) and Townsends big-eared (Corynorhinus townsendii) bats from western Oklahoma between January and February of 2011 and 2012. Nobuto strips containing blood samples from South African bats (Rhinolophus denti, Neoromicia capensis, Hipposideros commersoni, Nycteris thebaica) were used as negative controls. None of the African bats examined appeared to have antibodies against Pd. Thirteen M. velifer (41% of the Oklahoman bats) tested appeared to have antibodies against some strains of Pseudogymnoascus but it is unclear if they have antibodies specifically against Pd.