Ectoparasites may serve as vectors for the white-nose syndrome
fungus

J 2016

Ectoparasites may serve as vectors for the white-nose syndrome fungus

LUČAN, Radek K., Hana BANDOUCHOVA, Tomáš BARTONIČKA, Jiri PIKULA, Alexandra Jr ZAHRADNÍKOVÁ et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Ectoparasites may serve as vectors for the white-nose syndrome fungus

Authors

LUČAN, Radek K. (203 Czech Republic, guarantor), Hana BANDOUCHOVA (203 Czech Republic), Tomáš BARTONIČKA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Jiri PIKULA (203 Czech Republic), Alexandra Jr ZAHRADNÍKOVÁ (703 Slovakia), Jan ZUKAL (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Natália MARTÍNKOVÁ (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Parasites & Vectors, London, BioMed Central, 2016, 1756-3305

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 3.035

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/16:00087779

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1302-2

UT WoS

000368409100002

Keywords in English

Pseudogymnoascus destructans; Spinturnix; Emerging infectious disease; Fungal infection; Vectors; Transmission

Abstract

V originále

Background: Vertebrate ectoparasites frequently play a role in transmission of infectious agents. Pseudogymnoascus destructans is a psychrophilic fungus known to cause white-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging infectious disease of bats. It is transmitted with direct contact between bats or with contaminated environment. The aim of this study was to examine wing mites from the family Spinturnicidae parasitizing hibernating bats for the presence of P. destructans propagules as another possible transmission route. Methods: Wing mites collected from 33 bats at four hibernation sites in the Czech Republic were inspected for the presence and load of pathogen's DNA using quantitative PCR. Simultaneously, wing damage of inspected bats caused by WNS was quantified using ultraviolet light (UV) transillumination and the relationship between fungal load on wing mites and intensity of infection was subjected to correlation analysis. Results: All samples of wing mites were positive for the presence of DNA of P. destructans, indicating a high probability of their role in the transmission of the pathogen's propagules between bats. Conclusions: Mechanical transport of adhesive P. destructans spores and mycelium fragments on the body of spinturnicid mites is highly feasible. The specialised lifestyle of mites, i.e., living on bat wing membranes, the sites most typically affected by fungal growth, enables pathogen transport. Moreover, P. destructans metabolic traits suggest an ability to grow and sporulate on a range of organic substrates, including insects, which supports the possibility of growth on bat ectoparasites, at least in periods when bats roost in cold environments and enter torpor. In addition to transport of fungal propagules, mites may facilitate entry of fungal hyphae into the epidermis through injuries caused by biting.

Links

GAP506/12/1064, research and development project

Name: Adaptace netopýrů na plísňové onemocnění geomykózu

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Citovat

LUČAN, Radek K., Hana BANDOUCHOVA, Tomáš BARTONIČKA, Jiri PIKULA, Alexandra Jr ZAHRADNÍKOVÁ, Jan ZUKAL and Natália MARTÍNKOVÁ. Ectoparasites may serve as vectors for the white-nose syndrome fungus. Parasites & Vectors. London: BioMed Central, 2016, vol. 9, January, p. 1-5. ISSN 1756-3305. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1302-2.

@article{1331371,
   author = {Lučan, Radek K. and Bandouchova, Hana and Bartonička, Tomáš and Pikula, Jiri and Zahradníková, Alexandra Jr and Zukal, Jan and Martínková, Natália},
   article_location = {London},
   article_number = {January},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1302-2},
   keywords = {Pseudogymnoascus destructans; Spinturnix; Emerging infectious disease; Fungal infection; Vectors; Transmission},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1756-3305},
   journal = {Parasites & Vectors},
   title = {Ectoparasites may serve as vectors for the white-nose syndrome fungus},
   volume = {9},
   year = {2016}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1331371
AU  - Lučan, Radek K. - Bandouchova, Hana - Bartonička, Tomáš - Pikula, Jiri - Zahradníková, Alexandra Jr - Zukal, Jan - Martínková, Natália
PY  - 2016
TI  - Ectoparasites may serve as vectors for the white-nose syndrome fungus
JF  - Parasites & Vectors
VL  - 9
IS  - January
SP  - 1-5
EP  - 1-5
PB  - BioMed Central
SN  - 17563305
KW  - Pseudogymnoascus destructans
KW  - Spinturnix
KW  - Emerging infectious disease
KW  - Fungal infection
KW  - Vectors
KW  - Transmission
N2  - Background: Vertebrate ectoparasites frequently play a role in transmission of infectious agents. Pseudogymnoascus destructans is a psychrophilic fungus known to cause white-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging infectious disease of bats. It is transmitted with direct contact between bats or with contaminated environment. The aim of this study was to examine wing mites from the family Spinturnicidae parasitizing hibernating bats for the presence of P. destructans propagules as another possible transmission route. Methods: Wing mites collected from 33 bats at four hibernation sites in the Czech Republic were inspected for the presence and load of pathogen's DNA using quantitative PCR. Simultaneously, wing damage of inspected bats caused by WNS was quantified using ultraviolet light (UV) transillumination and the relationship between fungal load on wing mites and intensity of infection was subjected to correlation analysis. Results: All samples of wing mites were positive for the presence of DNA of P. destructans, indicating a high probability of their role in the transmission of the pathogen's propagules between bats. Conclusions: Mechanical transport of adhesive P. destructans spores and mycelium fragments on the body of spinturnicid mites is highly feasible. The specialised lifestyle of mites, i.e., living on bat wing membranes, the sites most typically affected by fungal growth, enables pathogen transport. Moreover, P. destructans metabolic traits suggest an ability to grow and sporulate on a range of organic substrates, including insects, which supports the possibility of growth on bat ectoparasites, at least in periods when bats roost in cold environments and enter torpor. In addition to transport of fungal propagules, mites may facilitate entry of fungal hyphae into the epidermis through injuries caused by biting.
ER  -

LUČAN, Radek K., Hana BANDOUCHOVA, Tomáš BARTONIČKA, Jiri PIKULA, Alexandra Jr ZAHRADNÍKOVÁ, Jan ZUKAL and Natália MARTÍNKOVÁ. Ectoparasites may serve as vectors for the white-nose syndrome fungus. \textit{Parasites \&{} Vectors}. London: BioMed Central, 2016, vol.~9, January, p.~1-5. ISSN~1756-3305. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1302-2.

Detailed Information on Publication Record