Emerging infectious diseases (EID) pose significant threats to biodiversity. Human influence over the environment has increased opportunities for the introduction of novel pathogens to naïve hosts, potentially leading to host extinction. Understanding mechanisms of host persistence is critical for effectively conserving species affected by EIDs. Our study investigated the disease dynamics of white-nose syndrome (WNS), caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) across a spatiotemporal gradient. We explored the relationship between bat roosting temperatures and Pd growth rates across three phases of pathogen invasion comprising years since WNS has been present at sites: invasion (0-3), established (4-8), and endemic (9+ years). Data used by this study comes from a combination of field-based data collection in New York where WNS has been present the longest and data from a long-running project which includes from other locations in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States. Our results reveal a weakening interaction between temperature and fungal growth rates time with WNS progresses. We additionally observed a decrease in early hibernation fungal loads and variation in infection prevalence over time, suggesting the onset of a coevolutionary relationship between bats and Pd. This study highlights the importance of investigating changing disease dynamics when understanding the reasonings for host persistence. / Master of Science / Emerging infectious diseases threaten species with the risk of extinction. Human activities have altered habitats which has increased the spread of new pathogens to vulnerable host populations. This research focuses on white-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging disease caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). The arrival of Pd to North America resulted in widespread declines in little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) populations, however, some populations persist at stable or growing rates. This study aims to investigate how the relationship between the growth rate of Pd and bat hibernation temperature may have changed over time. We used a combination of contemporary data collected in New York and a long-running dataset that documents the invasion and establishment of Pd across the Northeast and Midwestern regions of the United States to investigate fungal growth rates during different phases of Pd invasion: invasion, established, and endemic phases. Our results indicate the relationship between temperature and pathogen growth rate has weakened over time, suggesting potential changes in the host-pathogen relationship. Additionally, we found changes in fungal loads and infection prevalence throughout hibernation, suggesting the foundation of a coevolutionary relationship between bats and Pd. This research highlights the importance of understanding changes in disease dynamics to help understand how other species at risk of emerging infectious diseases may be able to persist.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/118649 |
| Date | 22 April 2024 |
| Creators | Fife, Josh |
| Contributors | Biological Sciences, Langwig, Kate Elizabeth, Hoyt, Joseph R., Ford, William Mark |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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