Table 2.
Body composition measurements
| Parameter | Pd infected bats | Control bats |
|---|---|---|
| All data | n = 22 | n = 10 |
| Initial TBW % BM | 53.4 (4.3) | 58.8 (2.4) |
| Final TBW % BM | 60.5 (3.9) | 61.0 (4.6) |
| Initial BM (g) | 7.64 (0.75) | 7.48 (0.58) |
| Final BM (g) | 6.60 (0.68) | 6.41 (0.57) |
| Paired data | n = 14 | n = 4 |
| Change in TBW % BM | + 9.1 (3.5) | + 4.0 (3.9) |
| Fat energy use (kJ) | 43.9 (13.6) | 20.5 (14.7) |
Values of body mass (BM) and total body water as percentage of body mass (TBW % BM) were used to estimate net fat energy use over 67 d for individual little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) experimentally infected with Pseudogymnoascus destructans and negative control (non-infected) bats. Values in the table are mean (SD) and n = sample size. Initial TBW % BM was significantly different between treatment groups. Over the course of the experiment, infected bats demonstrated a significant increase in TBW % BM and used significantly more fat energy than non-infected bats. Body mass decreased significantly over the experiment in infected and control bats but there was no difference between groups.