Answer to Question #54053 in Ecology for Anggie

Question

i am having trouble with a lab due tomorrow!:
If the European P. destructans is causing WNS in North America, how come European bats aren’t dying from the same disease?

Answer 1

There are several hypothesis explaining this fact. The bat species present in Europe and North America do not overlap. It seems that European bets have been coexisting with G.destructans for a long time. That is way bats in Europe are more resistant to this infection due to the immunological adaptations. In addition to this, microbial flora of bat skin in Europe may have some traits that inhibit G.destructans. Besides, bats in Europe may be behaviorally resistant to G.destructans: European bat species form much smaller hibernation groups in caves that bats in North America. This may limit the infection transmission. Another hypothesis suggests that environmental conditions limit the pathogenicity of G.destructans in Europe.