Fonte http://nsscavers.ning.com
La Sindrome del Naso Bianco, la terribile malattia che sta distruggendo intere colonie di pipistrelli in America del Nord, finora forse limitata a tre stati americani, ha raggiunto anche la Virginia.
Lo hanno confermato i ricercatori in una conferenza tenutasi il 5 marzo.
Nell’articolo in inglese è stato riscontrato che la frequentazione umana svolge un ruolo importante nella diffusione del virus. A questo punto, come frequentatori delle grotte, dobbiamo essere consapevoli degli immani danni che potremmo portare anche ai “nostri” pipistrelli italiani.
L’appello della Scintilena è di lavare SEMPRE l’attrezzatura, la tuta e gli stivali tra una uscita e l’altra in grotte diverse, oltre alle raccomandazioni diramate dal Gruppo Italiano di Ricerca Chirotteri:
LINEE GUIDA PER LA PREVENZIONE DELLA WHITE NOSE SYNDROME
CON PREGHIERA DI MASSIMA DIFFUSIONE PRESSO ZOOLOGI E SPELEOLOGI
COS’È LA WHITE NOSE SYNDROME
Negli Stati Uniti, una misteriosa malattia sta decimando intere colonie di pipistrelli.
Essa si manifesta, tra l’altro, attraverso la presenza di un fungo bianco che attacca la cute facciale (FOTO), ragione per cui è stata detta “sindrome del naso bianco†(White Nose Sindrome, WSN). Non è chiaro se il fungo sia la causa della sindrome oppure un fattore secondario, che sopraggiunge in soggetti già debilitati da altra causa.
Il Gruppo Italiano Ricerca Chirotteri, in seguito al ritrovamento anche in Europa di esemplari di pipistrelli affetti da un fungo bianco (i quali non è detto siano affetti da WSN!), ha deciso di divulgare alcune procedure generali (Linee Guida) per chi visita in inverno grotte e miniere frequentate da chirotteri.
COME COMPORTARSI
Se, visitando una grotta in inverno, si dovesse osservare un pipistrello in ibernazione con il muso bianco
o con strane chiazze bianche che facciano sospettare la presenza di un fungo, si raccomanda di comportarsi come segue:
– Non toccare nessun animale (vivo o morto) e specialmente quelli con il muso o il naso bianchi;
– Se si ha a disposizione una macchina fotografica, scattare alcune fotografie dei chirotteri sospetti;
– Uscire immediatamente dalla grotta evitando il contatto con altri pipistrelli
– Seguire scrupolosamente le Procedure di decontaminazione suggerite dallo U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Ecco l’articolo in Inglese sulla diffusione del virus anche in Virginia:
http://nsscavers.ning.com/xn/detail/1981829:BlogPost:76769
White Nose Syndrome reaches Virginia
da ENG Everyone’s Caving Blogs – NSS Online Cavers di Jim Lawton
This is from the previously mentioned conference call today as reported by Rick Lambert of VSS (VA Speleological Society):
The VSS gave majority support to the proposition; the BCCS, CCV, and VAR gave 100% support to the proposed protocol.
VSS directors proposed several deviations from the “original” (actually came to VSS as version 3) protocol. Here is v. 3:
Recommended caver practices and equipment protocols for reducing the risk of transmission of White Nose Syndrome by humans
During the winter of 2009, White Nose Syndrome (WNS) has been confirmed to be affecting bat populations in Pendleton County, West Virginia. Recent, February 2009, surveys of significant bat and recreational caves in adjacent Highland and Bath counties in Virginia revealed what appears to be early stage WNS present in at least one cave in Virginia: Breathing Cave in Bath County, located near the Highland County border.
This winter, caves in Virginia have been surveyed for WNS in Giles, Bland, Wise, Lee, Bath, and Highland counties. So far, signs of WNS have only been observed in Bath County. However, since Highland County lies directly between Bath County and Pendleton County, West Virginia, along the same belt of karst, it is likely that WNS is present in Highland County as well.
Evidence is mounting that humans may play a significant role in transmission of the biological agent(s) responsible for WNS in bats. The strongest such evidence is that WNS in the Virginias appears to be showing up first in recreational caves with high visitation. It is known that some of those cavers visiting the affected West Virginia Caves had previously visited WNS affected caves in New York. While it is unlikely that humans are the sole or even the primary vector, transmission of the disease by humans could increase both the rate and geographic extent of the WNS epidemic.
The Virginia Cave Board and Natural Heritage Karst Program are asking for a moratorium (a voluntary ban) on all caving activity in Virginia until April 15, 2009. A new statement will be issued on or before that time. Please note that at that time, we may ask to further extend the moratorium.
During the moratorium, work will be performed to identify and restrict access to significant bat caves. A significant bat cave is defined as a cave used by rare or endangered bat species, significant numbers of common bat species, and/or a high diversity of bat species. These determinations will be made jointly by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, and the Virginia Cave Board in consultation with members of the caving community. Input from cavers is sought and encouraged. A list of these caves will be posted on the VAR List of Closed and Limited Access Caves. Please note that many of the significant bat caves are already on the VAR List.
Secondly, we will work with biologists st udying WNS to establish and refine protocols to reduce the possibility of transmission of WNS by cavers. Some of the protocols under consideration are listed below. Comment on them is welcome. Cavers choosing not to observe the moratorium are strongly urged to follow these draft protocols. Once the moratorium is lifted, all cavers will be asked to follow protocols to reduce the risk of transmission of WNS by cavers:
1. Geographic isolation of caving activity and/or gear:
Cavers are requested to limit their caving activity to one geographic area as defined by a county or group of counties. The designation of caving areas appears at the end of this document. The rationale behind this is that the sterilization procedures are likely not 100% effective, especially since neither the specific causal agent nor mode of transmission has yet been definitively identified. Cavers choosing to cave in more than one of the defined areas are asked to dedicate a specific set of caving gear for each respective defined geographic area. Specific sets of clothing and all other caving gear should be dedicated for exclusive use in a single designated geographic area (as defined below). If you must go caving in multiple areas, complete disinfection of vehicles is recommended between trips to different areas. Special care should be taken to segregate any cave clothing and equipment dedicated for use in a given area from all other sets of clothing
and equipment dedicated for use in any other geographic caving areas respectively.
2. Strict adherence to decontamination procedures when moving between caves (even within the same geographically designated area)
After exiting one cave and prior to entering another cave, even within a designated caving area, decontamination practices as outlined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must be strictly adhered to. ALL equipment must be cleaned! These procedures are posted at:
http://www. fws.gov/northeast/whitenosem … ontainment
It should be noted that these decontamination procedures do not address pathogens carried on or within the bodies of cavers exposed to the WNS fungus (the suspected but as yet unconfirmed pathogen). To reduce the risk of harboring or carrying the disease, cavers should thoroughly clean and scrub themselves with soap and tolerably hot water following each trip to each cave. All clothes worn while traveling to and from the caving area should be laundered as soon as possible following caving trips.
List of Virginia Caving Areas:
Alleghany Highlands: Bath and Highland counties
Alleghany County
Shenandoah Valley: Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah, Rockingham, Augusta, and Page counties
Middle James and Roanoke River basins: Botetourt, Rockbridge, Roanoke, Craig (except RT 42 south of Newcastle) counties
New River Valley: Giles, Montgomery, Bland, Pulaski, Wythe, Craig counties (only RT 42 s outh of Newcastle)
Holston: Smyth and Washington counties
Clinch: Scott, Russell, and Tazewell counties
Powell: Lee and Wise counties