Meeting Abstract
P3.99 Tuesday, Jan. 6 Are Hibernating Bats Capable of Mounting an Effective Immune Response? Histological Evaluation of a Cellular Response to Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) Injections in the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) and the Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) MOORE, M.S.*; BUCKLES, E.L.; KUNZ, T.H.; Boston University, Boston; Cornell University, Ithaca; Boston University, Boston mmoore@bu.edu
White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a recently observed condition affecting bats in the northeastern United States that has caused up to 95% mortality in some hibernacula. First reported in the winter of 2006-2007, bats affected with WNS exhibit unusual behaviors, develop a fungal growth on their faces, ears, and wing membranes, are depleted of fat reserves, and exhibit extensive wing necrosis and scaring. It is not known whether the fungus, for which this syndrome is named, is the cause of death or an opportunistic condition of immuno-compromised individuals. However, bats that have the visible fungal colonies on their noses and wings have fungal hyphae within the dermis and epidermis and are absent of local inflammation. To test the hypothesis that hibernating bats are unable to mount an effective inflammatory response to the fungus because of physiological constraints associated with deep torpor, we collected biopsies of swellings developed in response to subcutaneously injected phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in active and hibernating little brown myotis, Myotis lucifugus, and big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus. Biopsies were collected at 6, 12, and 24 hours post-injection and analyzed histologically for variation in immune function cells. In active bats, the response to injection is mild, but does vary depending on time post-injection. These results will be used to describe potential differences in inflammatory response between active and hibernating bats, investigate possible variables associated with WNS, and establish whether or not hibernating bats can respond to a potentially infectious fungal condition.
