Immunostimulants: Nature’s Secret Weaponfor Healthier Fish and Shrimp

Aquaculture has emerged as one of the fastest-growing food production industries in the world, and it has made a substantial contribution to food security and economic development. However, infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites are still major constraints in fish and shrimp farming. Conventional methods using antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents have been widely practiced to control the spread of diseases. However, the overuse of antibiotics has led to antibiotic resistance, contamination of the environment, and the accumulation of residues in aquatic products, which is hazardous to human health and the sustainability of the ecosystem. Immunostimulants have been recognized as a promising and eco-friendly alternative to antibiotics in aquaculture. Immunostimulants are natural or synthetic substances that can stimulate the innate immune system of aquatic animals, thereby increasing their resistance to infectious diseases. They work by activating immune cells, increasing phagocytosis, and triggering the immune defense system. The application of immunostimulants has been found to increase survival rates, growth, and disease resistance in fish and shrimp.