Functionality of probiotics on the resistance capacity of shrimp against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV)

Shrimp aquaculture is currently regarded as a significant commercial and food production sector due to its growing importance as a source of human-consumable protein, As shrimp farming has become more intensive, disease outbreaks have become more common, necessitating the overuse of antimicrobial drugs, which has had a number of unintended consequences. The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is now recognized as one of the world's most pervasive and potentially fatal diseases affecting shrimp. However, there is currently no cure to prevent the disease's uncontrolled incidence and spread. Probiotics are currently favoured over these antimicrobial substances because of their ability to stimulate disease resilience in shrimp farms by strengthening the immune systems naturally. Probiotics for bacterial infections such as vibriosis are well documented, whereas research is still required to identify the legitimate strains for viral diseases. The utilization of these probiotics as a therapy for and preventative measure against WSSV in shrimp farming is a cutting-edge method that has proven to be effective. Some probiotic strains, such as Bacillus spp, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus pentosaceus, have been displayed to enhance the innate immunity of shrimp against WSSV, reduce viral load, increase digestibility and growth, and support the gut microbiome of the host in multiple investigations. The present review explores recent developments regarding the function of probiotics in shrimp, with a focus on their anti-WSSV activity.

Automated summary

Shrimp aquaculture is an important sector for commercial and food production due to its growing significance as a source of protein. The prevalence of disease outbreaks in shrimp farming has led to the overuse of antimicrobial drugs, causing unintended consequences. The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a pervasive and potentially fatal disease affecting shrimp, for which there is currently no cure. Probiotics have emerged as a favored alternative to antimicrobials, with the ability to enhance shrimp's disease resilience naturally. While probiotics have been well-documented for bacterial infections, further research is needed to identify suitable strains for viral diseases. The utilization of probiotics as a therapy and preventative measure against WSSV in shrimp farming has shown promising results.