Scientists Identify Fungus That Causes Deadly Bat Disease

U.S. researchers say they have conclusive evidence that the fungus Geomyces destructans is the cause of the deadly white-nose syndrome that has taken a heavy toll on North American bat populations in recent years. In a study published in the journal Nature, a coalition of scientific organizations reported that 100 percent of healthy brown bats exposed to the fungus while hibernating developed the mysterious ailment, which has killed more than 1 million cave-dwelling bats in the U.S. since it was first identified in 2006. In the northeastern U.S., scientists say white-nose syndrome has caused an 80-percent decline in bats. The latest research confirmed that G. destructans can be spread from infected bats to healthy bats through direct contact, said David Blehert, a microbiologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and one of the study’s authors.