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4 unusual facts about White nose syndrome


Big Bone Cave

The state of Tennessee closed all state-owned caves to exploration and visitation in 2009 to quell the spread of White nose syndrome, a disease that affects only bats.

White nose syndrome

The genera Geomyces and Pseudogymnoascus are closely related and found in the family Pseudeurotiaceae, but P. destructans was found to be most closely related to the "Pseudogymnoascus" species, indicating that its name should be changed to Pseudogymnoascus destructans.

There are currently nine hibernating bat species confirmed with infection of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, and at least five of those species have suffered major mortality.

The fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or a closely related species of fungus, has been found in soil samples from infected caves and suggests that it can be transported from cave to cave by soil, such as that carried by human clothing.



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