Urban sprawl and the spatial expansion of rabid bat encounters with humans in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

BACKGROUND

Rabies, a lethal zoonotic disease primarily affecting mammals, is commonly transmitted to humans through bites or contact with saliva from infected animals, including bats. In Los Angeles County, California, human cases of rabies have been documented for over a century. This study leverages Maximum Entropy (Maxent) modeling to map the spatial distribution of human encounters with rabid bats over three distinct periods (2009-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-2023).

METHODS

Using land use/land cover (LULC) and hydrological data, the models predict encounter hotspots across the county, highlighting the relationship between bat encounters and various environmental factors such as proximity to water bodies, developed areas, and shrublands.

RESULTS

The results show a shift in risk, with increases in human-bat interactions particularly noted at the urban fringes where new residential developments have emerged. These findings underscore the importance of targeted public health interventions, particularly in areas undergoing urban expansion.

CONCLUSION

The spatial risk maps generated provide a valuable tool for guiding rabies prevention strategies and public education efforts in Los Angeles County.