A cross-sectional survey on bat human interaction in Pakistan: one health perspective

Background and Aim

Serologic evidence has identified Lyssavirus exposure among bats in the Indian subcontinent. This study aims to investigate the perception of people regarding bats and the frequency of bat human interaction with One Health implications.

Material and Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire among individuals (n=1466) in two distinct topographic residential backgrounds (Mountainous and Plain regions) in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.

Result

A considerable number of respondents (28%) reported bat's left fruits in their gardens. People who saw bat left fruits in their garden had also reported more bat conflict incidences (32%) as compared to those who had not seen bat left fruit (16%). A higher proportion of respondents from the mountainous districts (23%) reported bat conflict incidents, compared to the plain region respondents (17%). Univariate analysis model also highlighted that topographic residential background (mountainous vs plain residential area) had significance (p<0.05) in describing bat conflict and suspected human rabies-related deaths, in comparison with provincial residential background (Punjab vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).  

Conclusion

Our findings indicate the necessity of a One Health comprehensive surveillance system for emerging and re-emerging zoonotic pathogens, including wildlife as a potential Lyssavirus reservoir, within a context of increased public health education efforts targeted at bats. Epidemiologic and ecologic investigations, as well as laboratory characterization of the virus responsible for human deaths in the mountainous regions, in Pakistan, will provide essential information required to develop strategies for zoonotic pathogen prevention and control.