Frequent and intense human-bat interactions occur in buildings of rural Kenya

Abstract

Simultaneous use of domestic spaces by humans and wildlife is little understood, despite global ubiquity, and can create an interface for human exposure to wildlife pathogens. Bats are a pervasive synanthropic taxon and are associated with several pathogens that can spill over and cause disease in humans. Urbanization has destroyed much natural bat habitat and, in response, many species increasingly use buildings as roosts. The purpose of this study was to characterize human interactions with bats in shared buildings to assess potential for human exposure to and spillover of bat-borne pathogens. We surveyed 102 people living and working in buildings used as bat roosts in Taita-Taveta county, Kenya between 2021 and 2023. We characterized and quantified the duration, intensity, and frequency of human-bat interactions occurring in this common domestic setting. Survey respondents reported living with bats in buildings year-round, with cohabitation occurring consistently for at least 10 years in 38% of cases. Human contact with bats occurred primarily through direct and indirect routes, including exposure to excrement (90% of respondents), and direct touching of bats (39% of respondents). Indirect contacts most often occurred daily, and direct contacts most often occurred yearly. Domestic animal consumption of bats was also reported (16% of respondents). We demonstrate that shared building use by bats and humans in rural Kenya leads to prolonged, frequent, and sometimes intense interactions between bats and humans, consistent with interfaces that can facilitate exposure to bat pathogens and subsequent spillover. Identifying and understanding the settings and practices that may lead to zoonotic pathogen spillover is of great global importance for developing countermeasures, and this study establishes bat roosts in buildings as such a setting.

Current and future environmental suitability for bats hosting potential zoonotic pathogens in rural Kenya

“…Buildings that were used by bats were identified through house-to-house surveys and community conversations (Jackson et al, 2024). Captured bats were identified to species level in the field using existing keys for bats in East Africa (Patterson & Webala, 2012).…”

“…The species is found in a diversity of environments, including woodland, rainforest, bushland, thicket, and agricultural areas but also in urban and suburban areas (Schoeman, 2016;Wilson & Mittermeier, 2019). Mops pumilus roosts communally in groups that can number from a few individuals to several thousand, often sharing roosts in human dwellings with several other synanthropic bat species (Jackson et al, 2024;Wilson & Mittermeier, 2019). Despite the wide geographical range of M. pumilus in Africa and its frequent interactions with humans and domestic animals (Jackson et al, 2024;Lunn et al, 2023), environmental factors that drive its environmental suitability have not been previously studied.…”

“…Mops pumilus roosts communally in groups that can number from a few individuals to several thousand, often sharing roosts in human dwellings with several other synanthropic bat species (Jackson et al, 2024;Wilson & Mittermeier, 2019). Despite the wide geographical range of M. pumilus in Africa and its frequent interactions with humans and domestic animals (Jackson et al, 2024;Lunn et al, 2023), environmental factors that drive its environmental suitability have not been previously studied. Bat distribution is influenced by a variety of environmental and behavioral factors that impact their movement across the landscape.…”

Exploring People’s Perception on Pros and Cons of Human-Bat Coexistence in Urban Environs in Southwestern Nigeria

“… 20 The health and disease ecology dimension of human-bat interactions investigates potential zoonotic risks, considering the proximity of bat roosts to human dwellings and the accumulation of urban pollutants in bat tissues, which can impact their immune systems and reproductive health. 21 Apart from this, the proposed conservation and management strategies emphasize the importance of green infrastructure designs, urban planning that protects critical bat habitats, and policies aimed at reducing light pollution and mitigating human-bat conflicts. 22 , 23 Public awareness campaigns are also vital in dispelling myths and fostering positive attitudes toward bats, highlighting their ecological significance for pest control and ecosystem balance.…”