Ecology and impacts of white-nose syndrome on bats

The recent introduction of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (the fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome in bats) from Eurasia to North America has resulted in the collapse of North American bat populations and restructured species communities. The long evolutionary history between P. destructans and bats in Eurasia makes understanding host life history essential to uncovering the ecology of P. destructans. In this Review, we combine information on pathogen and host biology to understand the patterns of P. destructans spread, seasonal transmission ecology, the pathogenesis of white-nose syndrome and the cross-scale impact from individual hosts to ecosystems. Collectively, this research highlights how early pathogen detection and quantification of host impacts has accelerated the understanding of this newly emerging infectious disease.

Automated summary

This review discusses the impact of Pseudogymnoascus destructans on bat populations and communities in North America, emphasizing the importance of understanding host life history in uncovering the ecology of the pathogen. It also delves into the patterns of P. destructans spread, pathogenesis of white-nose syndrome, and the cross-scale impact from individual hosts to ecosystems. The research highlights how early pathogen detection and quantification of host impacts have accelerated the understanding of this newly emerging infectious disease.