Given the global issues of bacterial resistance, commercial rejection of products with traces of antibiotics, and emerging diseases that affect aquaculture, alternatives are needed for the prevention and treatment of pathologies that affect aquaculture production.
Phytonutrients are an excellent alternative to address the problems. Worldwide research has demonstrated their antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal effects, in addition to acting as immunomodulators and increasing the consumption of concentrated food.
Commercial products based on phytogenic resources have demonstrated, under laboratory conditions and multiple field tests, the effects of plant extracts such as Garlic (Allium sativum), Oregano (Origanum vulgare), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) among others, on bacterial agents such as Edwarsiella sp., Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas sp, Flavobacterium sp, Streptococcus agalactiae, Vibrio sp, and Weisella ceti.
Thesis documents and field implementations of these phytonutrients in Tilapia, Trout, and Cachama productions have shown favourable results, where an increase in profitability is confirmed through better survival, feed conversion, final weight, and daily weight gain, among other factors resulting from the use of these types of additives.
It is necessary to continue researching the combination of these active principles, validating the antiparasitic and antifungal effects that are widely documented in international literature under different conditions. Likewise, a greater number of field studies are needed to standardize processes, dosages, and reach the best cost-benefit ratios using plant extracts.