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