Ecological control of schistosomiasis in Sub-Saharan Africa: restoration of predator-prey dynamics to reduce transmission

Human modification of the landscape can increase the transmission of schistosomiasis, a snail-borne parasitic infection prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. The construction of dams and irrigation schemes increases the habitat available for the freshwater snails that serve as the parasite’s intermediate host. Schistosomiasis is considered both a cause and consequence of poverty. The disease is treatable, but its persistence in the environment makes it difficult to prevent reinfection after treatment. Interventions that address the environmental source of infection are a necessary complement to mass treatment campaigns. We present a promising ecological solution for schistosomiasis control that harnesses predator-prey dynamics to suppress snail populations and parasite transmission. We present data on the ecological and epidemiological impacts of restoring Macrobrachium vollenhovenii , a freshwater prawn native to the Senegal River. Harnessing ecology to control disease transmission may be a viable strategy in other geographic regions and other disease systems.