Bats: Rare Immune Disease

     An epidemic broke out within some North American bats as they leave hibernation with little notice of the harmful side effects of a fungal virus known as, ‘white-nose syndrome’. Since the emergence of this virus, in the winter of 2005, approximately five million bats have died. According to a new study, the immune systems of these bats have become immune to the fungal virus, however the bats system is stimulated into ‘overdrive’. Wildlife pathologist, Carol Meteyer of the U.S. Geological Survey in Madison, Wisconsin, reports: “is the first potential example of IRIS that has ever been seen outside a human patient” (Meteyer). IRIS denotes immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, which immunologists are concluding that the bats have developed this new condition. Most patients with this disorder (IRIS) have been HIV patients treated with medicines to restore weakening immune systems, until this new discovery. This unusual condition, Meteyer recalls: “I was being sent bats found in front yards. They could not fly.” She quickly dismissed her initial suspicion, rabies, after examining the first animal’s wings. “Under microscopy, I could see the wings were tattered with holes.” Further probing would link inflammation to this damage (Meteyer). 

* Information obtained at www.sciencenews.org 

* Pictures obtained at www.sciencenews.org & www.washingtonpost.com

 Figure 21.1

 Figure 21.2