Introduction

In the past one year, a mysterious infection has been killing a huge majority of the wintering bats in mines and caves from Virginia to Vermont .This has raised great concern to biologists and ecologists on its nature and how it can be controlled. Veterinary personnel and other scientists have been trying to investigate the nature of this White- Nose Syndrome (WNS), an emerging bat disease connected with the death of over half a million of the insectivorous bats in the Eastern frontiers states of America (Golas and Buckles 56).

Although exact cause has not been properly diagnosed, this pathogen has been associated with intense cold climate especially during winters. Scientists have been wondering whether this fungus is the lone cause of the deaths or if it is just taking the advantage of the bat’s weakened immunity caused by an independent chemical or biological agent. The worst hit species are the eastern pipitrelles and the tiny brown bat populations with the entire of their population virtually wiped out in some winter hibernacula (Golas and Buckles 23). The federal government agencies together with some academic institutions have partnered in order to investigate the causes and the damage caused by this disease. This has also been extended to finding out it’s consequences on the overall bat population and the necessary mitigation measures required to salvage the remaining portion.

The fungus was given the name “White- Nose Syndrome” (WNS) because of its evident white fungus that occur on the muzzle and other infected parts of the body of the bats. This striking feature was also expected as white fungal growth around the wing and ear membranes. Microscopic examination of the affected skin showed colonized psychro- philic fungus that is connected genetically to Geomyces spp. In 2006, a two year study revealed that there was a 75 percent decline in the bat population which was attributed to this deadly white- nose syndrome (WNS) (Blehert 227). The growth of the fungus was higher in areas whose temperature range was between 2 and 14 ⁰c (Berdick 45).

The first incident of this fungus was recorded in the four US States of Massachusetts, Vermont, New York and Connecticut in 2006 (Louis 65- 7). This fungus was common in certain bat species such as Northern long- eared bat (M. septentrionalis), silver haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), little brown bat (Myitis lucifugus), big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), Red bat (Lasiurus borealis), this fungus affects bats which hibernate either as colonies or individually.

The pattern and transmission and presence of these pathogens are attributed to the ecological changes of the climate especially in cold seasons. These pathogens which cause acute infection on the exposed skin of the bats are closely linked to soil and identical conditions at 40F temperature (Berdick 96).

Mode of transmission

It is not clear how the pathogens are spread but the likely method is from one bat to another. There are possible ways of transmission whereby through their equipment and clothing, human beings transport this fungus from infected regions to clean ones, this clearly shows there are no clear origin of this pathogens and the effectual spreading. When hibernating t, the temperature of these bats drop by 1 ⁰c in a state referred to as deep torpor where the skin of the bat begin to become moldy; this gives this these fungus a chance to get into their bodies (Barbara 32).

In some regions for example Chester, Massachusetts, unusual death of bats during sunny days at freezing temperature ranges was reported. It is known that bats remain in hibernation throughout this period only to reappear in the end of March of the onset of April. These reappeared bats should increased signs of emaciation and general weakness- a known symptom of the WNS. This was attributed to starvation as a result of quick depletion of the stored white and brown fat, thus leading to their starvation and consequent inhibition of their immune system. This fungus is believed to have been introduced into this caves and the possible way to eradicate them is not known. The best method so far suggested to curb the spread is containment since there a section of the bats which escape this scourge only ton return tom get infected upon returning to this caves.  In the United States, 23 of the 45 species of bats are highly susceptible to this endemic (Barbara 89).