No Sign of Infection in Free-Ranging Myotis austroriparius Hibernating in the Presence of Pseudogymnoascus destructans in Alabama

Abstract

The susceptibility of Myotis austroriparius (Southeastern Myotis) to infection with Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS), is unresolved. Our goal was to provide an initial insight on WNS susceptibility of Southeastern Myotis through a combination of fungal swabbing, ultraviolet light (UV) photography, and seasonal counts of hibernating bats in 2 caves known to harbor P. destructans. We swabbed and photographed 61 Southeastern Myotis in 2 Alabama caves during the winter of 2017–2018 and photographed an additional 38 bats at 1 of these sites the subsequent winter. Of the bats swabbed during the first field season, 77% (n = 41) tested positive for P. destructans. None of the 99 bats examined and transilluminated with UV light exhibited any yellow-orange fluorescence characteristic of P. destructans infection. However, other bat species present at both sites had visible white fungal growth. Winter counts of Southeastern Myotis did not decline following the discovery of P. destructans at the hibernaculum where we had winter survey data predating WNS. Although our observations were limited in scope, these data suggest low susceptibility of Southeastern Myotis to WNS compared to other cave-hibernating species.