Fungus serious threat to North American bats

[John Chenger]

From Al Hicks update today:

Greetings all,

Last night 1-24-08 I visited the WH Mine, near Kingson NY and found 4-5 lucis with white nose among the several thousand bats I was able to examine closely. The infections were not at all obvious . Initially, I only saw two animals hanging that had tiny patches of white on their noses. One was roosting in a cluster of 5 animals. We removed the entire cluster and were able to see fungus on two others when held in the hand. We also found a small amount of fungus no a live animal that was on the floor of the mine. These bats and a couple thousand more lucis were in the coldest, above freezing, portion of the mine, near the entrance. This is not an unusual roost location during other times of the year. I am not sure about mid to late January. These infections were just beginning and were not nearly as evident as in the pictures I sent you yesterday. This mine contains roughly 26,000 sodalis and perhaps an equal number of lucifugus. It and the two other mines in the complex contain half of the Indiana bats in the eastern US ( Kentucky and Ohio excluded ) and about 100,000 bats of other species.

This is not an active caving site but has been visited by my staff some weeks, or perhaps months, after they had been in contaminated sites. It is roughly 55 miles from Hailes cave, the closest site of contamination. I can only hope that we are responsible for the spread, and that the bats are not carrying it around. .

In a bit of additional bad news, the specimen collected from Schoharie Cavern , that I mentioned yesterday, had white nose and was a pipistrelle. The only bat species in NY not confirmed killed so far have been Eptesicus and leibii.

Possible good news, our staff visited our northernmost hibernacula yesterday and found no sign of infection. However, they only visited a portion of the mine, and not the coldest portions.

I am overwhelmed at the moment, so please do not be offended if I have not responded to your e-mails. Feel free to call if you feel it is critical, try my cell phone.

Al

Alan Hicks
Mammal Specialist
Endangered Species Unit
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, 5th floor
Albany, NY 12233-4754
(518)-402-8854 Cell (518)-461-4632

[wyandottecaver]

I whole heartedly agree with other cavers and biologists who have expressed grave concern about WNS. While very little is known about this issue beyond the fact that it is spreading fast, and is very deadly, I think historical and recent cases of outbreaks such as virgil mentioned and including the current emerald ash borer, and CWD pathogens are instructive of what doesn't work in containing aggressive pathogens...i.e. indecision, prolonged discussion without action, half measures and politically acceptable compromises. I have closely followed the CWD and emerald ash borer incidents and despite millions upon millions of dollars spent the threat remains. The bottom line is you act fast and act more agressively as the pathogen or you fail, period.

From the data I have seen here and in the related links it seems there is growing circumstantial evidence for bats being the vector with a incidental human vector as possible. BOTH bats and cavers are of course highly mobile and neither are 100% predictable as to what caves they use.

In light of this, I think closing only major hibernacula to cavers may be insufficient since bats (and some cavers) don't read hibernacula listings and it is possible that some currently infected bats and/or some currently contaminated cavers would visit other hibernacula with healthy bats, infecting them, and thus bypassing the "net". newly infected bats and newly contaminated cavers could then spread WNS.

I would consider asking cavers to voluntarily:
1) Not to cave anywhere in the NE whether bats are present or not and then cave anywhere else east of the western border of Ohio whether bats are present or not. In particular, the 2008 convention in FL has the potential to be a disease disaster if humans can transport the pathogen and people from across the country visit the same caves within a weeks time!
2) Not to visit any cave anywhere east of the mississippi with known bat populations of any species this winter until more information can be gathered about possible human transport of the pathogen.
3) Actively look for WNS on incidental bats in caves they do visit and report it immediately if found
4) If you have been to an infected site do not re-use ANY gear at other sites unless they are also known to be infected, period. goodwill has cheap clothes, home depot has hard hats for $10 and wallmart has cheap lights.

I also think a serious discussion should be started now about NEXT winter. In particular doing extensive hibernacula surveys across the NE and midwest (with cross contamination prevention in mind) to identify infected sites by late next winter and taking a serious look at eliminating infected animals and even whole colonies. Yes, that means actively destroying animals in infected locations. I'll say it again, we must seriously consider exterminating infected colonies. With the high mobility of cavers and bats, and the aggressive nature of this disease we need to be thinking now about keeping BOTH cavers and bats from carrying this threat beyond the scope it reaches next winter if at all possible. If you think this drastic, I agree. But try to find a wild native chestnut today (which made up as much as 25% of the eastern forest not too long ago) and you might get an idea of what this pathogen could mean.

Todd Webb

[tncaver]

I don't know about other states, but in Tennessee, the Tennessee Cave Survey lists most
caves that should not be visited during bat hibernation or breeding seasons. TCS also
lists caves that should not be entered for other reasons such as biological significance,
etc. Of course everyone isn't a TCS member but TCS members are the ones who know
where most remote and biological caves are and when to visit or not to visit those
caves. Average cavers do not know where these special caves are. But
speleologists know and have access to these caves any time of the year due to their
professions.

Speleologists are the ones counting bats during hibernation
and or examining them during the those most sensitive times of the year when bats
are present in caves in great numbers. Is it not possible that speleologists are
the ones spreading this White Nose Disease? They are the ones who are counting bats
or examining them for this or that reason during the most sensitive times, when
bats need to be left alone and are in the greatest numbers. And they are TOUCHING bats.
Most cavers do not touch bats.
In winter bats could die simply because they have been disturbed and have
no insects to replenish their energy when awakened. This is when speleologists
are counting, touching and disturbing bat colonies regardless of whether caves are
gated or not because they have access where average cavers do not because of the gate.

My point is....could it be the speleologists who are spreading this disease? They have
access in caves that are gated when other cavers have no access. In some cases the speleologists are the ONLY ones who have any access to these bat caves all year long
due to protective gates. This is something to think about.

I'm just asking questions and seeking answers to the problem. Sometimes the ones
who care the most might be the cause of a problem. A "catch 22" situation.

[wyandottecaver]

TNCAVER

Al Hicks raised that very possibility in his letter regarding the Mine site, and I like him HOPE that is what is happening. If this is in fact spread by bats themselves (I personally think this is likely) the problem becomes exponentially worse. However, from what I have seen in various posts, some caves were infected that were visited by bat researchers only AFTER the disease was reported. Also, keep in mind that it is logical for this to quickly spread to the bigger hibernacula just from the volume of bats using them, not just because researchers go there too, though this does make human transport a bigger issue.

Also, while most state cave organizations track and list sensitive caves with regard to legally protected bats, In my post, I was referring to ALL caves with ANY species of bat. 1 infected bat joining a small "unimportant" hibernating population using a piddly crap-hole cave and that is visited by cavers from another state who then return and go caving with others and the genie is out of the bottle...at least in theory. we do not yet know if humans or bats or either can transport the pathogen.

[tncaver]

I sincerely hope for the sake of the bats and everything else involved, that the cause
of this fungus will be determined and a way to prevent it devised. I hope someone
is investigating the disease in hopes of a cure. And hopefully everyone will get to
look back on all this some day and laugh because it was overblown. But currently it
does sound extremely serious.

In the South most gated bat caves are now closed and those with
no gates are listed as closed on some websites due to hibernation. I hope this does
not spread South. Possibly the disease is incubated only in colder caves to the North.
Or is it Global Warming of these Northern caves that is causing the problem to occur?
Lots to learn. Anyone doing temperature testing in these caves? It might be helpful to know
if the average cave temperatures of these Northern caves are changing. It was mentioned
that some of the bats had taken up roosts closer to the outside than previously noted.
Perhaps Global Warming is having a hand in this event. Might be worth investigating.

[John Lovaas]

could it be the speleologists who are spreading this disease? They have
access in caves that are gated when other cavers have no access. In some cases the speleologists are the ONLY ones who have any access to these bat caves all year long
due to protective gates. This is something to think about

Except that the caves that have been impacted so far are all caves that receive at least seasonal visitation- and if they happen to be gated as bat hibernacula, that's a good thing.

IF cavers are introducing the Fusarium mold (or the as yet unknown primary infection) to these caves, it doesn't matter WHEN they visit- a mold spore will patiently wait for the right temperature/humidity conditions to do its thing.

And to a person, every "speleologist"(karst professional) I know keeps their gear clean- after all, it is their work gear. As to "cavers" who don't clean their gear, I don't run with that crowd, I guess. It is a bit like the hard core bikers who never wash their "colors" vest- they would let it slowly rot away as they wore it. Not cool- just gross and creepy.

[Scott McCrea]

MetaFilter has picked up on this thread. Hi MeFites.

[MUD]

As to "cavers" who don't clean their gear, I don't run with that crowd, I guess. It is a bit like the hard core bikers who never wash their "colors" vest- they would let it slowly rot away as they wore it. Not cool- just gross and creepy.

[wyandottecaver]

well,

Ive seen some pretty scroungy field crews....and besides, I think TNCAVER was actually talking about cross-contamination which does not at all preclude gear that would be considered "clean" under normal circumstances.

[ArCaver]

Caves leak. They leak air and water, chemicals and animals. Things like fungal spores move in and out of cave with little impediment all of the time. That's not to say cavers don't cause problems by never cleaning their gear. I know cavers who brag about never cleaning gear because the next water crawl will wash it. At the other extreme is a biologist I know who thinks if you come out of one cave you should wash your gear before going into another cave no matter how close together the caves are.
So far the discussion sems to be about cavers affecting the bats. What are the chances this disease could cause health problems for cavers?

[wyandottecaver]

I am by no means an expert and little is known about this situation, so don't consider this an authoritative answer. Based on what I have found so far that is relevant to your question:

1) the fungus is a species of fusarium..this may or may not be the actual primary pathogen however
2) some species of fusarium can infect humans, often with very dire results including very serious mycotoxins
3) fusarium fungus was one of several that have become a major problem at Lascaux cave in France. Of particular concern was the ability of the fusarium to quickly develop resistance to huge doses of antibiotics and fungicides used at the cave.
3) bats are mammals and so are we so at a minimum some concern is warranted
4) so far as reported, no ill-affects have been noted by humans who have been to infected sites
5) there is no direct evidence that humans ARE transporting the pathogen, how it is travelling is not currently known. precations are being taken because humans might be able to transport it.

I would add that while caves "leak" as you say, the surrounding matrix of soil and rock typically provide a very good filter to external living organisims not already adapted to underground environments. Humans can and do bypass natural transport limitations for many pathogens by moving them around with us.

The fact is that most of our impacts to caves are probably never noticed...if you exterminate 1000 species of site specific bacteria or other cave life like beetles that you never noticed were there in the 1st place by bringing in new invasive competitors on your gear (or body) that you also never noticed were there in the 1st place, then there isn't likely to be a research paper on it and you aren't likely to be very concerned about cleaning gear. Not pointing fingers because I am bad about cleaning gear too, just don't make the assumption that because it doesn't matter to our species, it doesn't matter to something.

[John Lovaas]

I think TNCAVER was actually talking about cross-contamination which does not at all preclude gear that would be considered "clean" under normal circumstances.

Well, tncaver referred to (apocryphal) speleologists visiting (apocryphyal) caves that noone else has access to. None of the caves where this white fungus has been noted could possibly be characterized as "caves noone else has access to". And in reading the accounts of this fungus, it appears that "plain ol' cavers" have been the first folks to notice this outbreak.

As to Fusarium and its' relationship with humans, you can read more here-

http://www.doctorfungus.org/thefungi/fusarium.htm

And as to the recommended clean up procedures- except for tossing in a bit of bleach during the wash cycle, my gear cleaning procedures jive with what has been recommended- I leave my stuff out on the line for a few days to let the sun, wind and rain have at it. After a few blasts with the hose, into the washing machine for two cycles, then into the dryer. Clean gear is safer gear, because you can actually see the condition of your gear, instead of just guessing what lies under the caked mud.

Tossing in a bit of bleach won't cramp my style a bit. I wonder if a bit of Lysol would do the trick as well.

[caveflower]

Tossing in a bit of bleach won't cramp my style a bit. I wonder if a bit of Lysol would do the trick as well.

About the after caving clean up. I always put Lysol in the wash with my cave clothes. About 1/2 cup of the Old School Lysol in the brown bottle. It's very strong and kills germs. I also mix it with water and clean my hard gear with it too. Your stuff dosn't get that weird smell after sitting for a while. You all know that smell! Bleach is to strong and is too hard on the fabric.
Your stuff will wear out in no time. I don't know if Lysol is as strong as bleach so I don't know if it's good enough to kill the fungus or not.

Just a thought from a mom who's wash alot of cave stuff.

I"ve sent this thread to every caver I know. This looks like it can really be a tragic problem that everyone should be aware of.

[ArCaver]

just don't make the assumption that because it doesn't matter to our species, it doesn't matter to something.

I would never, under any circumstances, make that assumption. I hope I didn't give you that impression. However, I'm very concerned this infection could be used by certain factions to close even more caves to cavers whether they can trace its spread to cavers or not. There is I believe a mistaken presumption that caves are separate from the surface to the extent that only those who enter can be held responsible for damage. I see hiking and mountain bike trails built that channel water to god knows where in karst terrain but I've never heard of caves being a factor in planning these trails. Logging roads and ATV trails cause much more damage. But where I live many, many insignificant little holes are listed as significant under the FCRPA for no other reason except to block access to cavers.

Thanks for your reply, and to John Lovaas too. That's the kind of info I wanted.

By the way, I have a tendency to be fastidious about cleaning my gear, but there's too much nylon in modern caving gear and ppe to be using any amount of chlorine bleach.

[ian mckenzie]

This site http://www.metafilter.com/68499/Fungus-troubles-caves claims the fungus is not only causing trouble in the USA.