Figure 1. Total circulating leukocytes in WNS-affected and unaffected little brown myotis.

Total circulating leukocytes (WBC) were estimated in little brown myotis collected from WNS-affected and unaffected sites during the winter of 2008–2009. Bats were sampled at body temperatures (T_b) indicative of torpor, the rewarming phase and euthermia. WBC was significantly related to temperature category in affected bats (Kruskal Wallis χ² = 7.61, p = 0.022), but not in bats from unaffected sites (Kruskal Wallis χ² = 3.586, p = 0.17). In affected bats, WBC was highest in individuals with T_b>20°C (torpid n = 32, rewarming n = 29, euthermic n = 33). Data points represent individuals and are spread for clarity. Groups labeled with different letters are significantly different from one another at the α = 0.05 level.