Bat white-nose syndrome: a real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction test targeting the intergenic spacer region of Geomyces destructans

Abstract

The fungus Geomyces destructans is the causative agent of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease that has killed millions of North American hibernating bats. We describe a real-time TaqMan PCR test that detects DNA from G. destructans by targeting a portion of the multicopy intergenic spacer region of the rRNA gene complex. The test is highly sensitive, consistently detecting as little as 3.3 fg genomic DNA from G. destructans. The real-time PCR test specifically amplified genomic DNA from G. destructans but did not amplify target sequence from 54 closely related fungal isolates (including 43 Geomyces spp. isolates) associated with bats. The test was qualified further by analyzing DNA extracted from 91 bat wing skin samples, and PCR results matched histopathology findings. These data indicate the real-time TaqMan PCR method described herein is a sensitive, specific and rapid test to detect DNA from G. destructans and provides a valuable tool for WNS diagnostics and research.

• diagnostic test
• IGS
• pathogen
• PCR
• wildlife disease

Acknowledgments

We thank A. Minnis (U.S. Forest Service) for assistance with phylogenetic analyses. We acknowledge technical assistance provided by B. Berlowski-Zier (U.S. Geological Survey) and M. Banik (U.S. Forest Service). D.S.B. was financially supported by the U.S. Geological Survey and D.L.L. by the U.S. Forest Service. Use of trade, product or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.