IMPLICATION OF ALTERNATIVE DRUG SOURCESTO COMBAT AGAINST FISH FUNGAL PATHOGEN SAPROLEGNIA PARASITICA

Abstract

Saprolegnia parasitica is an important fish fungal pathogen, causing a significant economic challenge in aquaculture. This present review shares insights into the development of effective pharmacological componentsto restrictSaprolegnia parasiticamediated infections. Pathogenic oomycetes can infect various plant and animal hosts, leading to several diseases that significantly impact the economy. Saprolegniasis is a condition that impacts young fish and eggs in hatcheries around the globe. This condition is brought about by the harmful oomycete known as Saprolegnia parasitica. As preliminary symptoms of the disease, greyish-white marks of filamentous mycelium appear on the different parts of the fish body, including fins. Such changes promote tissue damage and even death of the organism. Saprolegniasis can be managed with Malachite green, but due its harmful and cancer-causing effects on human its application was prohibited since 2002. However, ban of Malachite green has led to enhanced occurrence of saprolegniasis in fish affecting the entire fisheries industry once again, thus upsetting the fishery associated global economic status. Under such circumstances, exploration of alternative ways to manage the pathogen Saprolegnia parasiticaseems to be relevant and crucial as well. Thus, the present reviewis an attempt to gather the available information on the topic keeping heed attention to discuss the probable management strategies and possible drug targets that can be brought into account to prevent Saprolegniasis.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.65525/SVUP.9788198800473.2025.182-198