Fish & Wildlife Disease: White-Nose Syndrome
Since the winter of 2006-07, millions of North American bats have died from white-nose syndrome (WNS). As of September 2015, bats with WNS were confirmed in 26 states and five Canadian provinces.
White-nose syndrome gets its name from the white fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which infects the skin on the muzzle, ears, and wings of hibernating bats and was discovered by USGS scientists.
USGS scientists have developed novel tools and techniques for national WNS detection, surveillance (UV light) and research efforts. Our scientists are monitoring bat populations (NABat) and hibernating bat behavior in addition to assessing the impact of WNS on bat populations. USGS is now focusing on disease management strategies to reverse bat declines from WNS (oral vaccine, modification of bat hibernation sites, investigations of the bat skin microbiome).
New Simulated Treatment Model

We developed a model allowing for the application of treatment strategies to bat populations at risk of severe mortality from WNS. The model allows the bat population to exist within a network of hibernacula and updates survival, reproduction, movement, treatment applications, and treatment related disturbance annually.
Bat Disease Research
North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
A Rapid CRISPR-based Field Test for the Non-invasive Detection of the Fungal Causative Agent of White-nose Syndrome
White-nose syndrome vaccine update and research on host protection mechanisms
Field trials for testing of white-nose syndrome vaccine candidates
Bat Research
Integrating colony counts with NABat acoustic data to reveal the true impacts of White-Nose Syndrome on northern long-eared bats
A continental-scale study of acoustic phenology to improve population monitoring and inform management of hibernating bats
Developing online integrated data visualization tools for WNS and NABat
Modeling the response of cave hibernating Myotis species to white-nose syndrome mitigation tactics
Quantifying vulnerability of bat species to White-nose Syndrome across North America
Vaccines
White-Nose Syndrome Surveillance
White-Nose Syndrome
Bat Research in California
Population Demographic Models for the Conservation of Endangered Indiana Bats at Risk to White-Nose Syndrome
Infection by White-nose Syndrome is likely to Extirpate the Endangered Indiana Bat over major portions of its current range
Non-invasive Surveillance of Bat Hibernacula to Investigate Potential Behavioral Causes of Mortality Associated with White Nose Syndrome
Ecological Investigations of White-Nose Syndrome in Bats
External Microbiota of Bats as Potential Bio-control Against Wildlife Diseases
White-Nose Syndrome Threatens the Survival of Hibernating Bats in North America
WNS Data Management Coordination
Explore our science through the data below.
Histopathology of tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) exposed to the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans under varying temperature and humidity conditions
Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county 2013-2020
Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county (2008-2012)
In Support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 3-Bat Species Status Assessment: Summer Mobile Acoustic Transect Analysis
Skin mycobiomes of eastern North American bats
Virally-vectored vaccine candidates against white-nose syndrome induce anti-fungal immune response in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)
Bat occupancy model predictions for Montana from acoustic and mist net data 2008-2010
Experimental infection of Tadarida brasiliensis with the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome: hibernation data
Determinants of Pseudogymnoascus destructans within bat hibernacula: data
WNS Summer Surveillance: DATA
Recent publications related to USGS bat disease research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS bat disease publications is available from the button below.
Reproductive trends in Little Brown Bats before and after the onset of white-nose syndrome in Virginia
The skin I live in: Pathogenesis of white-nose syndrome of bats
Disentangling genetic diversity of Myotis septentrionalis: population structure, demographic history, and effective population size
Using mobile acoustic monitoring and false-positive N-mixture models to estimate bat abundance and population trends
Widespread occupancy of the endangered northern myotis on northeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain islands
Seasonal roost characteristics and fall behavior of coastal populations of Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis)
Joint spatial modeling bridges the gap between disparate disease surveillance and population monitoring efforts informing conservation of at-risk bat species
A minimally invasive, field-applicable CRISPR/Cas biosensor to aid in the detection of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative fungal agent of white-nose syndrome in bats
Model-based surveillance system design under practical constraints with application to white-nose syndrome
Reyes, Anne Ballmann, Trevor J. Hefley, Ian McGahan, Robin Russell, Daniel P. Walsh, Juntao Zhu
Early treatment of white-nose syndrome is necessary to stop population decline
Plant pathogens provide clues to the potential origin of bat white-nose syndrome Pseudogymnoascus destructans
Experimental inoculation trial to determine the effects of temperature and humidity on White-nose Syndrome in hibernating bats
Since the winter of 2006-07, millions of North American bats have died from white-nose syndrome (WNS). As of September 2015, bats with WNS were confirmed in 26 states and five Canadian provinces.
White-nose syndrome gets its name from the white fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which infects the skin on the muzzle, ears, and wings of hibernating bats and was discovered by USGS scientists.
USGS scientists have developed novel tools and techniques for national WNS detection, surveillance (UV light) and research efforts. Our scientists are monitoring bat populations (NABat) and hibernating bat behavior in addition to assessing the impact of WNS on bat populations. USGS is now focusing on disease management strategies to reverse bat declines from WNS (oral vaccine, modification of bat hibernation sites, investigations of the bat skin microbiome).
New Simulated Treatment Model

We developed a model allowing for the application of treatment strategies to bat populations at risk of severe mortality from WNS. The model allows the bat population to exist within a network of hibernacula and updates survival, reproduction, movement, treatment applications, and treatment related disturbance annually.
Bat Disease Research
North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
A Rapid CRISPR-based Field Test for the Non-invasive Detection of the Fungal Causative Agent of White-nose Syndrome
White-nose syndrome vaccine update and research on host protection mechanisms
Field trials for testing of white-nose syndrome vaccine candidates
Bat Research
Integrating colony counts with NABat acoustic data to reveal the true impacts of White-Nose Syndrome on northern long-eared bats
A continental-scale study of acoustic phenology to improve population monitoring and inform management of hibernating bats
Developing online integrated data visualization tools for WNS and NABat
Modeling the response of cave hibernating Myotis species to white-nose syndrome mitigation tactics
Quantifying vulnerability of bat species to White-nose Syndrome across North America
Vaccines
White-Nose Syndrome Surveillance
White-Nose Syndrome
Bat Research in California
Population Demographic Models for the Conservation of Endangered Indiana Bats at Risk to White-Nose Syndrome
Infection by White-nose Syndrome is likely to Extirpate the Endangered Indiana Bat over major portions of its current range
Non-invasive Surveillance of Bat Hibernacula to Investigate Potential Behavioral Causes of Mortality Associated with White Nose Syndrome
Ecological Investigations of White-Nose Syndrome in Bats
External Microbiota of Bats as Potential Bio-control Against Wildlife Diseases
White-Nose Syndrome Threatens the Survival of Hibernating Bats in North America
WNS Data Management Coordination
Explore our science through the data below.
Histopathology of tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) exposed to the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans under varying temperature and humidity conditions
Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county 2013-2020
Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county (2008-2012)
In Support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 3-Bat Species Status Assessment: Summer Mobile Acoustic Transect Analysis
Skin mycobiomes of eastern North American bats
Virally-vectored vaccine candidates against white-nose syndrome induce anti-fungal immune response in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)
Bat occupancy model predictions for Montana from acoustic and mist net data 2008-2010
Experimental infection of Tadarida brasiliensis with the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome: hibernation data
Determinants of Pseudogymnoascus destructans within bat hibernacula: data
WNS Summer Surveillance: DATA
Recent publications related to USGS bat disease research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS bat disease publications is available from the button below.
Reproductive trends in Little Brown Bats before and after the onset of white-nose syndrome in Virginia
The skin I live in: Pathogenesis of white-nose syndrome of bats
Disentangling genetic diversity of Myotis septentrionalis: population structure, demographic history, and effective population size
Using mobile acoustic monitoring and false-positive N-mixture models to estimate bat abundance and population trends
Widespread occupancy of the endangered northern myotis on northeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain islands
Seasonal roost characteristics and fall behavior of coastal populations of Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis)
Joint spatial modeling bridges the gap between disparate disease surveillance and population monitoring efforts informing conservation of at-risk bat species
A minimally invasive, field-applicable CRISPR/Cas biosensor to aid in the detection of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative fungal agent of white-nose syndrome in bats
Model-based surveillance system design under practical constraints with application to white-nose syndrome
Reyes, Anne Ballmann, Trevor J. Hefley, Ian McGahan, Robin Russell, Daniel P. Walsh, Juntao Zhu