Characterization of Microsatellites in Pseudogymnoascus destructans for White-nose Syndrome Genetic Analysis

Drees, Kevin P.; Parise, Katy L.; Rivas, Stephanie M.; Felton, Lindsey L.; Puechmaille, Sébastien J.; Keim, Paul; Foster, Jeffrey T.

doi:10.7589/2016-09-217

Cited by 10 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Rather, the spread likely involves multiple back and forth transmissions between hibernacula, resulting in mixed phenotypic diversity within certain areas of the WNS epizootic. Recent genetic analyses of strains from NA suggested evidence for widespread mixings and long-distance dispersals (28,38,39), consistent with the second hypothesis and with what we observed here for phenotypic traits.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Phenotypic Divergence along Geographic Gradients Reveals Potential for Rapid Adaptation of the White-Nose Syndrome Pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, in North America

Forsythe

Giglio

Asa

et al. 2018

Appl Environ Microbiol

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White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an ongoing epizootic affecting multiple species of North American bats, caused by epidermal infections of the psychrophilic filamentous fungus Since its introduction from Europe, WNS has spread rapidly across eastern North America and resulted in high mortality rates in bats. At present, the mechanisms behind its spread and the extent of its adaptation to different geographic and ecological niches remain unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the geographic patterns of phenotypic variation and the potential evidence for adaptation among strains representing broad geographic locations in eastern North America. The morphological features of these strains were evaluated on artificial medium, and the viability of asexual arthroconidia of representative strains was investigated after storage at high (23°C), moderate (14°C), and low (4°C) temperatures at different lengths of time. Our analyses identified evidence for a geographic pattern of colony morphology changes among the clonal descendants of the fungus, with trait values correlated with increased distance from the epicenter of WNS. Our genomic comparisons of three representative isolates revealed novel genetic polymorphisms and suggested potential candidate mutations that might be related to some of the phenotypic changes. These results show that even though this pathogen arrived in North America only recently and reproduces asexually, there has been substantial evolution and phenotypic diversification during its rapid clonal expansion. The causal agent of white-nose syndrome in bats is , a filamentous fungus recently introduced from its native range in Europe. Infections caused by have progressed across the eastern parts of Canada and the United States over the last 10 years. It is not clear how the disease is spread, as the pathogen is unable to grow above 23°C and ambient temperature can act as a barrier when hosts disperse. Here, we explore the patterns of phenotypic diversity and the germination of the fungal asexual spores, arthroconidia, from strains across a sizeable area of the epizootic range. Our analyses revealed evidence of adaptation along geographic gradients during its expansion. The results have implications for understanding the diversification of and the limits of WNS spread in North America. Given the rapidly expanding distribution of WNS, a detailed understanding of the genetic bases for phenotypic variations in growth, reproduction, and dispersal of is urgently needed to help control this disease.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Phenotypic Divergence along Geographic Gradients Reveals Potential for Rapid Adaptation of the White-Nose Syndrome Pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, in North America

Forsythe

Giglio

Asa

et al. 2018

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…In HWE populations, allele and genotype frequencies are assumed to remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of other evolutionary influences (migration, mutation, selection, gene drift), suggesting that the mange epidemic described here originated from a single source and a single introduction event. Low genetic diversity is common in newly introduced pathogens [24] and consistent with the rapid spread of an emerging pathogen [25]. Unfortunately, at the time of our study there were no llama with mange in the area, which precluded us from further exploring this species as a source of mite introduction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Soon thereafter, significant declines in the camelid populations were noticed as the number of affected animals increased [23]. The abrupt nature and rapid progression of the outbreak suggests a recent introduction of the causative pathogen [24,25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sarcoptic mange outbreak decimates South American camelid populations in San Guillermo National Park, Argentina

Ferreyra

Rudd

Foley

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Sarcoptic mange epidemics can devastate wildlife populations. In 2014, mange was first detected in vicuña ( Vicugna vicugna ) and guanaco ( Lama guanicoe ) in San Guillermo National Park (SGNP), Argentina. This study characterized the potential source and the impacts of the outbreak in 2017–2019. Transect surveys indicated a sharp decrease in the density of live vicuña and guanaco by 68% and 77%, respectively, from May 2017 to June 2018. By April 2019 no vicuña or guanaco were recorded on transect surveys, suggesting a near-extinction at the local level. Clinical signs consistent with mange (e.g. intense pruritus, hyperkeratosis, alopecia) were observed in 24% of live vicuña (n = 478) and 33% of live guanaco (n = 12) during surveys, as well as in 94% of vicuña carcasses (n = 124) and 85% of guanaco carcasses (n = 20) opportunistically examined during the study period. Histological examination (n = 15) confirmed sarcoptic mange as the cause of the cutaneous lesions. Genetic characterization revealed that Sarcoptes scabiei recovered from seven vicuña (n = 13) and three guanaco (n = 11) shared the same genotype, which is consistent with a single source and recent origin of the epidemic. A governmental livestock incentive program introduced llama ( Lama glama ) in areas adjacent to SGNP in 2009, some of which reportedly had alopecic scaling consistent with sarcoptic mange. We hypothesize that the introduction of mange-infected llama may have triggered the outbreak in wild camelids which has now put them at a high risk of local extinction. This unprecedented event highlights that the accidental introduction of disease may be underestimated at the onset yet can have devastating effects on native ungulate populations with potentially profound effects at the community and ecosystem levels.

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“…DNA samples from P. destructans were tested with the 23-locus multilocus variable number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) panel described by Drees et al ( 65 ). Briefly, we identified 2- to 6-bp repeats in the genome sequence of P. destructans type strain 20631-21 (GenBank accession no.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenetics of a Fungal Invasion: Origins and Widespread Dispersal of White-Nose Syndrome

Drees

Lorch

Puechmaille

et al. 2017

mBio

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Globalization has facilitated the worldwide movement and introduction of pathogens, but epizoological reconstructions of these invasions are often hindered by limited sampling and insufficient genetic resolution among isolates. Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a fungal pathogen causing the epizootic of white-nose syndrome in North American bats, has exhibited few genetic polymorphisms in previous studies, presenting challenges for both epizoological tracking of the spread of this fungus and for determining its evolutionary history. We used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from whole-genome sequencing and microsatellites to construct high-resolution phylogenies of P. destructans. Shallow genetic diversity and the lack of geographic structuring among North American isolates support a recent introduction followed by expansion via clonal reproduction across the epizootic zone. Moreover, the genetic relationships of isolates within North America suggest widespread mixing and long-distance movement of the fungus. Genetic diversity among isolates of P. destructans from Europe was substantially higher than in those from North America. However, genetic distance between the North American isolates and any given European isolate was similar to the distance between the individual European isolates. In contrast, the isolates we examined from Asia were highly divergent from both European and North American isolates. Although the definitive source for introduction of the North American population has not been conclusively identified, our data support the origin of the North American invasion by P. destructans from Europe rather than Asia.

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Characterization of Microsatellites in Pseudogymnoascus destructans for White-nose Syndrome Genetic Analysis

Cited by 10 publications

References 13 publications

Phenotypic Divergence along Geographic Gradients Reveals Potential for Rapid Adaptation of the White-Nose Syndrome Pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, in North America

Phenotypic Divergence along Geographic Gradients Reveals Potential for Rapid Adaptation of the White-Nose Syndrome Pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, in North America

Sarcoptic mange outbreak decimates South American camelid populations in San Guillermo National Park, Argentina

Phylogenetics of a Fungal Invasion: Origins and Widespread Dispersal of White-Nose Syndrome

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