White-nose syndrome increases torpid metabolic rate and evaporative water loss in hibernating bats

• DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00058.2017
• Publication Date: 2017-08-23T20:40:22Z
• Authors: Liam P. McGuire; Heather W. Mayberry; Craig K. R. Willis
• Keywords: Torpor; Myotis lucifugus; Hibernation; Wildlife disease; Eptesicus fuscus; Captivity

Fungal diseases of wildlife typically manifest as superficial skin infections but can have devastating consequences for host physiology and survival. White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease that has killed millions hibernating bats in North America since 2007. Infection with the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans causes to rewarm too often during hibernation, cause increased arousal rates remains unknown. On basis data from studies captive free-living bats, two mechanistic models been proposed explain processes WNS. Key predictions both are WNS-affected will show 1) higher metabolic torpor (TMR) 2) evaporative water loss (EWL). We collected WNS-negative hibernaculum, inoculated one group P. destructans, sham-inoculated second controls. After 4 mo TMR EWL were measured using respirometry. Both supported, our suggest infected more affected by variation ambient humidity than Furthermore, severity, indicated area wing UV fluorescence, was positively correlated EWL, not TMR. Our results provide first direct evidence heightened energy expenditure independently contribute WNS pathophysiology, implications design potential treatments disease.