%0 Journal Article
%T Probiotics as Antiviral Agents in Shrimp Aquaculture
%A Bestha Lakshmi
%A Buddolla Viswanath
%A D. V. R. Sai Gopal
%J Journal of Pathogens
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/424123
%X Shrimp farming is an aquaculture business for the cultivation of marine shrimps or prawns for human consumption and is now considered as a major economic and food production sector as it is an increasingly important source of protein available for human consumption. Intensification of shrimp farming had led to the development of a number of diseases, which resulted in the excessive use of antimicrobial agents, which is finally responsible for many adverse effects. Currently, probiotics are chosen as the best alternatives to these antimicrobial agents and they act as natural immune enhancers, which provoke the disease resistance in shrimp farm. Viral diseases stand as the major constraint causing an enormous loss in the production in shrimp farms. Probiotics besides being beneficial bacteria also possess antiviral activity. Exploitation of these probiotics in treatment and prevention of viral diseases in shrimp aquaculture is a novel and efficient method. This review discusses the benefits of probiotics and their criteria for selection in shrimp aquaculture and their role in immune power enhancement towards viral diseases. 1. Introduction Aquaculture is a worldwide activity and considered as a major economic and food production sector as it is an increasingly important source of protein available for human consumption. According to FAO, the supplies of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs from aquaculture increased from 3.9% of total production by weight in 1970 to 27.3% in 2000, and aquaculture is growing more rapidly than all other animal-food-producing sectors [1]. In Europe itself, it is estimated that aquaculture production will exceed 2.5 million tonnes by 2015 and reach 4 million tonnes by 2030 [1]. Aquaculture production is heavily dominated by China and other developing countries in the Asia Pacific region, which accounts for 89% by volume [2]. Intensification of aquaculture had led to the promotion of conditions that favor the development of a number of diseases and problems related to biofouling. Shrimp farming is an aquaculture business; that is, it exists in either a marine or freshwater environment, producing shrimp or prawns. Over the past five years, there have been major developments in shrimp farming. Diseases are primary constraint to the growth of many shrimp species, which are exposed to stressful conditions, adverse environmental conditions. Consequently, wide ranges of chemicals particularly antimicrobial agents are used in shrimp farming to prevent and to treat diseases. The usage of these antimicrobial agents has increased enormously
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jpath/2013/424123/