POTENTIAL OF ORGANIC IMMUNOSTIMULANTS AS FEED ADDITIVES IN FISH PRODUCTION

Abstract

Fish is an essential part of protein supply to every household in developing countries. Most of the fish species produced are reduced in number due to the adverse effect of fish diseases of pathogenic origin. Safety of fish consumed at household level should be of public health concern too. The use of synthetic immunostimulants such as antibiotics and chemicals are serious threat to the consumers of such fish fed with them. The use of organic immunostimulants such as plant extracts as feed additives are great assets in aquaculture due to their economically friendly and biodegradability in aquatic environment. Therefore, the paper reviewed sources of immunostimulants, plant extracts used as organic immunostimulanis, probiotics and prebiotics used as immunostimulants, and mode of administration of immunostimulants in aquaculture.