Aquaculture alternative antimicrobial

Key words aquaculture, alternative medicines, natural antimicrobials, herbal... 

Eighty per cent of the world population mainly depends on traditional medicines from plants, animals and microorganisms for their health care (Farnsworth et al., 1985). Although this usage dates back more than 100 years, the usage of alternative antimicrobials in aquaculture is a very recent development. 

Abstract Infectious diseases cause severe problems in the aquaculture industry, with viral diseases being responsible for the greatest losses in production. Disease prevention strategies still have some limitations in terms of safety and efficacy. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are molecules of the innate immune system, one of the first lines of defense against pathogens. Usually they not only exhibit antimicrobial activity, but also modulate the immune response. This review focuses on fish AMPs and their antiviral and immunoregulatory activities in order to assess their potential relevance to aquaculture. Since fish depend on their innate immune defenses more than mammals, they could be an alternative source of novel antiviral compounds. 

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