Diversity of the Type I Intron/ITS Region of the 18S rRNA Gene in Geomyces species from the Red Hills of Kansas

Abstract

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging wildlife disease that has caused the most rapid wildlife population declines ever reported and is threatening all temperate bat species. Analysis of the growth from WNS inflicted bats has conclusively identified the causative agent of WNS, a fungus designated Geomyces destructans. Since the first report from New York in 2006, WNS has been detected in 16 additional states and implicated in over five million bat deaths in North America. The Gypsum caves found throughout the Red Hills of Kansas have the state’s most diverse and largest population of cave roosting bats, and are home to some Tier 1 ranking species as noted by the Kansas Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan (KCWCP). Currently, WNS has not been detected in the Gypsum caves. However, the rapid westward movement of WNS from the Eastern United States, the likely occurrence of WNS in neighboring counties of Oklahoma, and the already fragile populations of bats in the Red Hills of Kansas dictate aggressive action to help aid the understanding of this impending epizootic disease. In this study, cave soil was obtained from the Red Hills. Using the polymerase chain reaction, a 624 nucleotide DNA fragment specific to the Type1 Intron/ITS region of the 18S rRNA gene from Geomyces species was amplified. Subsequent DNA sequencing and direct comparison to the same genetic locus in G. destructans was performed. The data indicates that G. destructans DNA was detected, along with 26 Geomyces variants. Continued surveillance to monitor trends of G. destructans distribution in the Red Hills of Kansas is critical to the management of a possible WNS outbreak should it occur.