First mycological investigation on Italian bats

To ascertain the occurrence of White -nose syndrome or similar mycotic diseases in Italian bats, fifteen bat carcasses ( Myotis capaccini, Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis sp., Pipistrellus sp . ) found in a cave in souther n Italy , two dead bats ( Rhinolophus hipposideros ) collected in a cave in Piedmont, and three living bats ( Tadarida teniotis , Hypsugo savii and Pipistrellus nathusii ) sampled in Turin (NW Italy) were analysed. Forty - six fungal strains, belonging to 15 species, were isolated in pure culture from different car- casses. Five other taxa were identified by direct microscopical analysis of small pieces of skin or hair. Since neither Geomyces destructans nor any other Geomyces species were found, we concluded that these fungi probably invaded bat hair and tissues only after the death of the animals. Trichospo rum chiropterorum was reported for the first time in Italy .