Seaweed polysaccharides as potential therapeutic agents against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV): a mini review

Viral disease outbreaks are the major concern in aquaculture sector, affecting the development of crustacean aquaculture. Since the emergence of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in shrimp farms, this caused huge economic loss and societal impact in aquaculture industry. Several strategies include controlled environmental conditions; vaccines and immunostimulants were proposed for disease management. However, there are no effective treatment methods available for viral infections in shrimp; the search for alternative approach is the need of the hour. Recently, natural products from medicinal plants, marine algae, and their derivatives gained importance in the control of disease conditions in shrimps. In this review, we focused on the importance and role of seaweed polysaccharides on the effective management of WSSV in aquaculture animals. In addition, the review emphasizes the mechanisms of anti-WSSV activity of seaweed polysaccharides and their potential therapeutic strategies.