26th WNS State: Iowa

[David Riggs]

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced that three bats of
the genus Myotis were found to have White-Nose Syndrome at a Des
Moines County cave entrance. While the P.d. fungus was detected in the
state several years ago, this is the first confirmed case of the
disease WNS itself.

A total of 26 US states have now been confirmed WNS positive.


See: http://www.iowadnr.gov/home/ctl/detail/mid/2822/itemid/2613

"
White-nose syndrome has been confirmed in Iowa, making it the 26th
state to confirm the disease of hibernating bats that has killed more
than 5.7 million bats since 2006.

Three bats collected in Des Moines County were confirmed to have
white-nose syndrome (WNS). Two little brown bats and one northern
long-eared bat observed near a cave entrance showed visible signs of
WNS during monitoring for the disease. The USGS-National Wildlife
Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin confirmed that the bats had WNS.

Pseudogymnoascus destructans (P. d.), the fungus that causes
white-nose syndrome, was also detected on additional samples collected
from the cave, which as recently as February 2014 had no visual signs
of WNS. WNS was also confirmed in four little brown bats collected in
Van Buren County this winter after a concerned citizen reported bats
flying around outside.

P. d. had previously been detected in caves at Maquoketa Caves State
Park in 2011, 2012, and 2013, but it was not detected in the last two
winters.

The Iowa DNR conducted routine monitoring and surveillance at other
sites and is investigating an unconfirmed report of possible WNS in
another county. Additional samples are still being analyzed by the
National Wildlife Health Center.

The confirmation of WNS in Iowa is not a surprise. Monitoring found
P.d. in the state in 2011 and the DNR took steps to help delay the
arrival of the disease through seasonal cave closures and public
education about decontamination procedures to prevent transporting the
fungus between sites. The caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park remain
seasonally open.
"


- DR

--
David A. Riggs
Myotisoft LLC
1170 Winklers Creek Rd.
Boone, NC 28607
(304) 685-7537
dri...@myotisoft.com