Using synthetic antibiotics/chemicals for infectious bacterial pathogens and parasitic disease control causes beneficial microbial killing, produces multi-drug resistant pathogens, and residual antibiotic impacts in humans are the major threats to aquaculture sustainability. Applications of herbal products to combat microbial and parasitic diseases are considered as alternative approaches for sustainable aquaculture. Essential oils (EOs) are the secondary metabolites of medicinal plants that possess bioactive compounds like terpens, terpenoids, phenylpropenes, and isothiocyanates with synergistic relationship among these compounds. The hydrophobic compounds of EOs can penetrate the bacterial and parasitic cells and cause cell deformities and organelles dysfunctions. Dietary supplementation of EOs also modulate growth, immunity, and infectious disease resistance in aquatic organisms. Published research reports also demonstrated EOs effectiveness against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Gyrodactylus sp., Euclinostomum heterostomum, and other parasites both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, different infectious fish pathogenic bacteria like Aeromonas salmonicida, Vibrio harveyi, and Streptococcus agalactiae destruction was confirmed by plant originated EOs. However, no research was conducted to confirm the mechanism of action or pathway identification of EOs to combat aquatic parasites and disease-causing microbes. This review aims to explore the effectiveness of EOs against fish parasites and pathogenic bacteria as an environment-friendly phytotherapeutic in the aquaculture industry. Moreover, research gaps and future approaches to use EOs for sustainable aquaculture practice are also postulated.

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Dietary supplementation of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) at different levels (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg kg diet) was evaluated to find out the effects on serum and skin immune responses as well as stress resistance in the red sea bream (Pagrus major). After 45 days of experimental trial, serum and mucosal immune responses were significantly high in fish fed 1 mg Se-NPs kg diet (P < 0.05). In this group, alternative complement pathway, total serum protein, antioxidant activity of catalase enzyme, serum bactericidal activity, serum lysozyme activity, and amounts of skin mucus secretions as well as stress resistance against low salinity stress increased significantly, when compared to fish fed Se-NP-free diet (P < 0.05). Furthermore, fish fed Se-NPs at 2 mg kg diet exhibited higher alternative complement pathway, total serum protein, mucus lysozyme activity, serum and mucus peroxidases, amount of mucus secreted, and tolerance against low salinity stress than the fish fed Se-NP-free diet (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the nitro blue tetrazolium activity in all groups fed with diets supplemented with Se-NPs are significantly higher than Se-NP-free diet (P < 0.05). The present results demonstrate that the dietary supplementation with Se-NPs (mainly from 1 to 2 mg kg level) could be useful for maintaining the overall health status of red sea bream.

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