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Assessing the threat of bat-associated fungal pathogens

Authors :
Samantha C. Karunarathna
Danny Haelewaters
Michail S. Lionakis
Saowaluck Tibpromma
Xu Jianchu
Alice C. Hughes
Peter E. Mortimer
Source :
One Health, Vol 16, Iss , Pp 100553- (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
Elsevier, 2023.

Abstract

Fungal pathogens have become an increasingly important topic in recent decades. Yet whilst various cankers and blights have gained attention in temperate woodlands and crops, the scope for fungal pathogens of animals and their potential threat has received far less attention. With a shifting climate, the threat from fungal pathogens is predicted to increase in the future, thus understanding the spread of fungi over landscapes as well as taxa that may be at risk is of particular importance. Cave ecosystems provide potential refugia for various fungi, and roosts for bats. With their well vascularized wings and wide-ranging distributions, bats present potential fungal vectors. Furthermore, whilst bat immune systems are generally robust to bacterial and viral pathogens, they can be susceptible to fungal pathogens, particularly during periods of stress such as hibernation. Here we explore why bats are important and interesting vectors for fungi across landscapes and discuss knowledge gaps that require further research.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
23527714
Volume :
16
Issue :
100553-
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
One Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.567cc9f1ee6d4b7b946667d31580e861
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100553