Ten-year projection of white-nose syndrome disease dynamics at the southern leading-edge of infection in North America.

ABSTRACT: Predicting the emergence and spread of infectious diseases is critical for the effective conservation of biodiversity. White-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging infectious disease of bats, has resulted in high mortality in eastern North America. Because the fungal causative agent Pseudogymnoascus destructans is constrained by temperature and humidity, spread dynamics may vary by geography. Environmental conditions in the southern part of the continent are different than the northeast, where disease dynamics are typically studied, making it difficult to predict how the disease will manifest. Herein, we modelled WNS pathogen spread in Texas based on cave densities and average dispersal distances of hosts, projecting these results out to 10 years. We parameterized a predictive model of WN

SUBMITTER: Meierhofer MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8170204 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature