Working with cavers to protect our bats

• Wildlife Health Australia Quarterly Update October 2017

Cavers play an important role in protecting Australian bats from the exotic disease white-nose syndrome (WNS). This disease has caused significant declines in insectivorous bat populations in North America. WNS has not been found in Australia, but the fungus causing this disease could be brought into the country on contaminated clothing, footwear or equipment used in affected caves overseas. WHA has been working with cavers, the wildlife community and the Australian Government to keep our bats safe from this disease.
In July, WHA’s Keren Cox-Witton presented on WNS at the International Congress of Speleology in Sydney. “There was a lot of interest in the disease from researchers and recreational cavers, and particularly our activities to keep it out of Australia,” Keren said. “The congress was also an excellent chance to learn from technical experts and cave managers from overseas. Hearing about their experiences will help us plan for a possible outbreak in Australia.”

WHA also sponsored a small research project for a veterinary science student, Soraya Salleh, working with Dr Jasmin Hufschmid from the University of Melbourne. Soraya attended the speleology congress in Sydney and conducted a survey of congress attendees on their awareness of WNS, their history of visiting caves and decontamination practices. With 140 surveys completed by both international and Australian delegates, we are very interested in the results, which will be available later in the year.

Pictured above: Soraya Salleh and Nicholas White at the speleology congress

One person who has worked very hard to keep WNS out of Australia is Nicholas White from the Australian Speleology Federation. Nicholas’ hard work and commitment were recognised recently through a letter of appreciation from the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Mark Schipp. The letter was presented to Nicholas by Rachel Iglesias on Dr Schipp’s behalf at the annual meeting of the Bat Health Focus Group in Brisbane in August. Well done Nicholas!

Pictured above: Rachel Iglesias presenting a letter of appreciation to Nicholas White

To find out more about WNS, go to WHA’s Bat Health Focus Group page for the following information:

• How to recognise and report a suspect case of white-nose syndrome
• Guidelines for veterinarians on sample submission for white-nose syndrome exclusion testing
• WNS fact sheet
• Report on risk assessment for introduction of WNS into bats in Australia
• WNS response guidelines to assist response agencies in the event of an incursion of the exotic disease white-nose syndrome into bats in Australia.

• wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au / Bat Health Focus Group

WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME

White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease that has caused significant declines in insectivorous bat populations in North America. White-nose syndrome has not been identified in Australia.

How to report a suspect case of white-nose syndrome - This document provides information on white-nose syndrome for people in Australia who come into contact with microbats e.g. bat/wildlife carers, ecologists and other researchers and students, cavers, cave managers, park rangers and members of the public.

National guidelines for sample submission - White-nose syndrome - Exclusion testing - This document provides a framework to assist veterinarians with the appropriate collection and submission of samples to facilitate the exclusion of white-nose syndrome in Australia.

White-nose syndrome - Protecting Australian bats - This is an update on current activities to reduce the risk of introduction of WNS into Australia, and to better prepare Australia in case the disease were to be found here.

White-nose Syndrome Fact Sheet (Exotic) - This is one of a suite of fact sheets produced by WHA, providing summary information on this disease.

Qualitative risk assessment: White-nose syndrome in bats in Australia - Wildlife Health Australia, with funding from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, commissioned a disease risk assessment for the potential introduction of white-nose syndrome to Australia. This report was prepared by a team of experts led through the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the South Australian Museum, DELWP (Arthur Rylah Institute) Victoria and the University of Adelaide.

White-nose Syndrome Response Guidelines - These guidelines have been developed by Wildlife Health Australia in consultation with stakeholder groups, to assist response agencies in the event of an incursion of the exotic disease white-nose syndrome into bats in Australia.

White-nose Syndrome Response Guidelines Workshop - Summary - Wildlife Health Australia and Animal Health Australia ran a workshop in October 2016 to discuss response options for a possible incursion of the exotic disease white-nose syndrome into bats in Australia.