The microscopic fungus Geomyces destructans is a psychrophilic dermatophyte causing since 2006 a serious bat disease in North America called white-nose syndrome (WNS). In Europe, G. destructans has also been recorded, however less commonly and without striking lethal effects. Currently, seven isolates of G. destructans isolated from greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) from four localities are maintained in the Culture Collection of Fungi (CCF) in Prague. Growth tests at 12 and 15 °C on eight agar media demonstrated that the fungus grows somewhat faster at 12 °C than at 15 °C. Good growth was observed on nutrient rich media. No further isolates of G. destructans were recovered during screening of bat-associated environments.
Kubátová A., Koukol O., Nováková A. (2011): Geomyces destructans, phenotypic features of some Czech isolates. – Czech Mycology 63(1): 65–75.
