Characteristics and Risk Perceptions of Ghanaians Potentially Exposed to Bat-Borne Zoonoses through Bushmeat

Abstract

Emerging zoonotic pathogens from wildlife pose increasing public health threats globally. Bats, in particular, host an array of zoonotic pathogens, yet there is little research on how bats and humans interact, how people perceive bats and their accompanying disease risk, or who is most at risk. Eidolon helvum, the largest and most abundant African fruit bat species, is widely hunted and eaten in Ghana and also carries potentially zoonotic pathogens. This combination raises concerns, as hunting and butchering bushmeat are common sources of zoonotic transmission. Through a combination of interviews with 577 Ghanaians across southern Ghana, we identified the characteristics of people involved in the bat-bushmeat trade and we explored their perceptions of risk. Bat hunting, selling and consumption are widely distributed across regional and ethnic lines, with hotspots in certain localities, while butchering is predominantly done by women and active hunters. Interviewees held little belief of disease risk from bats, saw no ecological value in fruit bats and associated the consumption of bats with specific tribes. These data can be used to inform disease and conservation management plans, drawing on social contexts and ensuring that local voices are heard within the larger global effort to study and mitigate outbreaks.

Figure 1

Different hunting methods across the interview sites. Accra and Kumasi are urban areas, while Afram, Nkawkaw and Volta are rural.

Figure 2

Proportions of respondents participating in different bat-bushmeat activities, by interview area. Accra and Kumasi are urban areas, while Afram, Nkawkaw and Volta are rural. Respondents can be included in more than one category (therefore totals will be >100%).

Figure 3

Proportions of respondents from different ancestral regions who participated in the various bat-bushmeat activities.

Figure 4

95% confidence intervals for the mean age of people who do and do not participate in the various bat-bushmeat activities.

Figure 5

Participation in different bat-bushmeat activities and perception of disease risk from such participation based on education level. Education levels were coded as follows: 0 no formal schooling, 1 some primary education, up to form 4, 2 some secondary education, 3 secondary complete, 4 technical diploma or equivalent, 5 university education.

Figure 6

Map of study area.