White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is affecting bats, causing population declines in several locations in North America and Canada. Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) the fungus that causes WNS has been confirmed in the western United States with the most recent detection reported by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on July 5th 2019, from a little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). Surveillance of the pathogen has been implemented with non-invasive ways facilitating a fast detection of this fungus. However, there is no information about how different substrates can work as potential sources or harbor places of the fungus. To evaluate this, we experimentally quantify Pd persistence through time in a set of substrates. Using four different substrates: fresh guano, autoclaved guano, wood, and soil, we inoculated ~1 gram of each substrate with 450,000 total number of Pd conidia.
Results/Conclusions
After sampling at regular intervals (~15 days), we quantified Pd growth using quantitative-PCR to obtain the amount of Pd at each sampling event in the different substrates. Our results showed that Pd remains in the different substrates for at least 60 days. Pd was able to grow on autoclave and fresh guano in contrast to soil and wood. We hypothesized bacteria action could be influencing how Pd grows on the different substrates. We expect our results to be useful, informing about the use of substrates as a proxy for fungus detection and help us to improve our monitoring efforts of this deadly pathogen.