MANAGEMENT OF WHITE NOSE SYNDROME (WNS): DECONTAMINATION AND BIOSECURITY PROTOCOLS IN CAVES

Abstract

White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is an emerging and devastating dermatomycosis caused by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans and a sister species, which has led to unprecedented population declines in hibernating bats in North America. This study, characterized as an integrative literature review, sought to synthesize recent evidence on the management of WNS, focusing on decontamination and biosecurity protocols in caves. The fungus has Eurasian origin, and its persistence in the cave environment is a critical factor for epidemiology, acting as a permanent reservoir. The infection compromises the host, causing disruption of the splenic lipidome, increased energy expenditure due to frequent awakenings, and profound restructuring of the cutaneous microbiome, reducing bacterial diversity and natural defense mechanisms. Given the pathogen's environmental robustness and the dispersal facilitated by bat sociability and human movement, traffic control and rigorous cleaning of equipment and clothing are essential barriers to mitigate anthropogenic transport and the spread of the epizootic.