Temperature shifts associated with bat arousals during hibernation inhibit the growth of Pseudogymnoascus destructans.

ABSTRACT: Temperature is a critically important factor in many infectious disease systems, because it can regulate responses in both the host and the pathogen. White-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats is a severe infectious disease caused by the temperature-sensitive fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). One feature of WNS is an increase in the frequency of arousal bouts (i.e. when bat body temperatures are elevated) in Pd-infected bats during hibernation. While several studies have proposed that increased frequency of arousals may play a role in the pathophysiology of WNS, it is unknown if the temperature fluctuations might mediate Pd growth. We hypothesized that exposure to a high frequency of elevated temperatures would reduce Pd growth due to thermal constraints

SUBMITTER: Forney R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9682300 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature