The Effect of Bat Microbiomes and Ectoparasite Presence on White Nose Syndrome
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Krisztian Magori
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
5-7-2024 1:15 PM
End Date
5-7-2024 1:35 PM
Location
PAT 326
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
White Nose Syndrome is estimated to have killed millions of bats across the United States. Following the first recorded outbreak in 2006, it has since spread to 40 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces, including Washington State. The Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife is conducting monitoring to determine if WNS is present in Eastern Washington, specifically in Lincoln County. In order to better understand the dynamics of WNS within a population, it’s important to understand its interactions with other factors, such as a bat’s protective microbiome, or the presence of ectoparasites. Understanding how microbiomes and ectoparasites affect WNS in bat populations will provide important information for future management decisions.
We plan to collaborate with the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife to observe and record the body condition of a colony of bats currently residing in an abandoned farmhouse in Lincoln County. Nose swabs will be taken to test for WNS, while wing swabs will be taken and stored for skin microbiome testing. Samples from the wing swabs will be grown on petri dishes and identified using visual identification, gram staining, and PCR. Ectoparasite type and presence will be recorded. We believe that if WNS is discovered within the flock, that it will be more likely to be discovered in bats with large amounts of ectoparasites and underdeveloped microbiomes.
Recommended Citation
Tabino, Makenna; Luna, Jackie; and Schur, Chelsea, "The Effect of Bat Microbiomes and Ectoparasite Presence on White Nose Syndrome" (2024). 2024 Symposium. 11.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2024/op_2024/o3_2024/11
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
The Effect of Bat Microbiomes and Ectoparasite Presence on White Nose Syndrome
PAT 326
White Nose Syndrome is estimated to have killed millions of bats across the United States. Following the first recorded outbreak in 2006, it has since spread to 40 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces, including Washington State. The Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife is conducting monitoring to determine if WNS is present in Eastern Washington, specifically in Lincoln County. In order to better understand the dynamics of WNS within a population, it’s important to understand its interactions with other factors, such as a bat’s protective microbiome, or the presence of ectoparasites. Understanding how microbiomes and ectoparasites affect WNS in bat populations will provide important information for future management decisions.
We plan to collaborate with the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife to observe and record the body condition of a colony of bats currently residing in an abandoned farmhouse in Lincoln County. Nose swabs will be taken to test for WNS, while wing swabs will be taken and stored for skin microbiome testing. Samples from the wing swabs will be grown on petri dishes and identified using visual identification, gram staining, and PCR. Ectoparasite type and presence will be recorded. We believe that if WNS is discovered within the flock, that it will be more likely to be discovered in bats with large amounts of ectoparasites and underdeveloped microbiomes.
Comments
This is a project for BIOL490 - Disease Ecology capstone.