The Potential for Aquaculture to Reduce Poverty and Control Schistosomiasis in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) during an Era of Climate Change: A Systematic Review

Figures & data

Figure 1. Schistosoma spp. life cycle. Source: CDC. Please note: Use of this material does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government of this article.

Figure 2. The PRISMA workflow diagram, describing the process of this systematic review.

Table 1. Search terms used in the systematic review of the literature via the online database Scopus in June 2020.

Primary terms	Secondary terms
Schistosomiasis	Aquaculture
“Côte d’Ivoire” or “Ivory Coast”	“Climate change”
Protopterus	“Biological control” or biocontrol^a
Macrobrachium	“Côte d’Ivoire” or “Ivory Coast”
	Market^a
	Poverty
	Protopterus
	Schistosomiasis
	Snail^a
	Macrobrachium

^aAllows search engine to look up both singular and plural forms of the term.

Table 2. Definitions of technical evidential quality for a given body of evidence (from Arthur et al. 2013).

Technical quality rating for a body of evidence	Definition
High	The majority of single studies were assessed as being of a high quality, demonstrating adherence to the principles of rigor, validity and reliability.
Moderate	Of the single studies, approximately equal numbers were of a high, moderate, and low quality, as assessed according to the principles of rigor, validity and reliability.
Low	The majority of single studies were assessed as being of low quality, showing significant deficiencies in adherence to the principles of rigor, validity and reliability.

Figure 3. Graphical abstract of the predator farming model.

Table 3. A comparison of the relative strengths and weaknesses between two potential candidates for snail predation in the predator farming model.

	Relative strengths		Relative weaknesses
Species	Commercial aquaculture	Managed fishery	Commercial aquaculture	Managed fishery
Macrobrachium vollenhovenii (freshwater prawn)	Wild post-larva populations available in many regions Grow well in polyculture with Nile tilapia (O. niloticus), which is widely grown across West Africa High-value species; low survival can still generate profit Large market exists for fresh and value-added products using this species	Large number of fisheries already exist Already often found in rice paddies fed by undammed rivers High-value species; low survival can still generate profit Large market exists for fresh and value-added products using this species	No hatchery yet exists Slow-growing compared to similar non-native species (M. rosenbergii) No domestication program has yet been conducted Very sensitive to agricultural chemicals A shared ecological niche with host snails has not been confirmed Deployment for snail predation will require enclosed yet well-circulating area to prevent escapements	With exception of upstream from dams, no evidence rebuilding fisheries will decrease local levels of schistosomiasis Not resilient to rapid changes in climate; requires relatively narrow ranges of temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen to survive. Very sensitive to agricultural chemicals Requires unfettered access to brackish water to spawn A shared ecological niche with host snails has not been confirmed
Protopterus annectens (West African lungfish)	Grow well in polyculture with Nile tilapia (O. niloticus), which is widely grown across West Africa Considered a climate-resilient species; breathes air and thrives across a range of temperatures, estivating during droughts Estivating individuals, if kept within their mucus cocoons, have a significant shelf life Relatively good fatty acid profile, potential to be marketed as delicacy Hatching and growth protocols for similar species exist Prefers snails and other mollusks over other foods Upon deployment, can consume all sizes of host snails	Estimated large number of fisheries in Côte d’Ivoire Considered a climate-resilient species; breathes air and thrives across a range of temperatures, estivating during droughts Relatively large individuals with good fatty acid profile, considered a delicacy in many countries Prefers snails and other mollusks over other foods Upon deployment, can consume all sizes of host snails	Not yet cultured in West Africa Requires higher-protein feeds No existing market in Côte d’Ivoire Unknown sensitivity to agricultural chemicals Large, snapping jaws may pose a danger to amateur farmers and fishers Requires robust, lined ponds to prevent burrowing, escapement, and the destruction of the earthen dams often used in Côte d’Ivoire	No evidence rebuilding fisheries will decrease local levels of schistosomiasis Unknown sensitivity to agricultural chemicals Existing fishery locations unknown outside localities Migratory habits, if any, are unknown

Figure 4. Movements of fish catch and imports within Côte d’Ivoire. Source: Worldfish, used with permission.

Arthur R, Béné C, Leschen W, Little D. 2013. Fisheries and aquaculture and their potential roles in development: an assessment of the current evidence. Institute of Development Studies/DFID, June: 1–92.

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