Background:

Different methods are currently used for the prevention and control of diseases in aquaculture. Prophylaxis with immunostimulants from microscopic fungi provides protection against diseases and increases resistance to parasites. In this context, Basidiomycota fungi could have high potential for use in aquaculture because they contain different compounds, such as fungal proteins, polysaccharides, terpenoids, vitamins, and minerals, which could work as immunostimulants.

Goals:

Collect and disseminate the information on species of macroscopic fungi that have been used as immu nostimulants in the farming of teleost fish and the fungi that have not been tested in fish but have shown positive results in other organisms.

Methods:

We gather, discuss and compare the experimental, scientific and theoretical literature related to the immunostimulant effect of macroscopic fungi in the cultivation of teleosts, as well as fungi whose stimulating effect has been positive in other organisms.

Results:

We evaluated more than 50 species of fungi with immunostimulating properties. Nevertheless, in recent years, the effects of only eight species of macromycetes, belonging to the genera Ganoderma, Inonotus, Lentinula, Pleurotus, and Trametes, have been evaluated in 17 published papers regarding the immune response of nine species of fish. Seven of these papers are about isolated glucans, six about crude and alcoholic extracts, two about pulverized basidiomata, and one about a mushroom fermented by-product.

Conclusions:

Due to the limited information on the immunostimulating effect of macromycetes on fish, more research is needed regarding other fungi species with immunostimulant properties, the correct determination of fungi species, their culture, and in vivo and in vitro tests that confirm their immune system effects on the model organism and target organism.