Research on Immunostimulants in Aquaculture with Special Reference to Shrimp Culture

Aquaculture has become an important economic activity in many countries. In large-scale production facilities, where aquatic animals are exposed to stressful conditions, problems related to diseases and deterioration of environmental conditions often occur and result in serious economic losses. Prevention and control of diseases have led during recent decades to a substantial increase in the use of veterinary medicines. However, the utility of antimicrobial agents as a preventive measure has been questioned, given the extensive documentation of the evolution of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, alternative methods need to be developed to maintain a healthy microbial environment in the aquaculture systems. One such method that is gaining importance within the industry is the use of immunostimulants to control potential pathogens. This review provides the importance of immunostimulants along with their current trends in research in the shrimp culture